EFFICACY OF ACELLULAR-LYOPHILIZED HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD ECM-POWDER GUIDED BY BOVINE URINARY BLADDER MATRIX CONDUIT FOR PERIPHERAL NERVE REPAIR IN DOGS MODEL

Abstract

Peripheral nerve possesses the inherent ability to regrow and recover the following injury. However, nerve regeneration is often slow and incomplete due to limitations associated with the local microenvironment during the repair process. Manipulation of the local microenvironment at the site of nerve repair, therefore, represents a significant opportunity for improvement in downstream outcomes. Sixteen (16) local breed dogs were divided equally into acellular bovine urinary bladder matrix conduit as conduit group (CG) and acellular bovine urinary matrix conduit filled with acellular and lyophilized human umbilical cord ECM scaffolds as scaffold group (SG). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of acellular and lyophilized human umbilical cord ECM scaffold as an intraluminal filler of acellular bovine urinary matrix conduit onthe regeneration of 1cm radial nerve defect in dog s model as histopathological analysis. Histopathological examinations of the proximal nerve stump in the (CG) showed mild adherence surrounding acoaptated area, few vacuolations, and profuse of collagen at the peri and epineurium. The coaptatedsite showed the degeneration, disorientationof nerve fibers, and invasion of inflammatory cells with a high number of macrophages and lymphocytes, whileintraneural scar tissues were seen in the distal segment at the 112 th post-operation day (POD). The histopathological sections of (SG) showed the activated Schwann cells, good myelination, minimum scar tissue, good orientation, and remarkable angiogenesis at the 112 th POD.Theacellular and lyophilized human umbilical cord ECM scaffold is capable of promoting the regeneration of radial nerve defects.