The neuroprotective effects of adalimumab on rats with experimental peripheral nerve injury: an electron microscopic and biochemical study.

Abstract Background Traumatic peripheral nerve injury (TPI) is a major medical problem without effective treatment options. There is no way to diagnose or treat an incomplete injury and delays contribute to morbidity. We examined 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a potassium-channel blocker as a possible treatment for TPI. Methods We used standard mouse models of TPI with functional outcomes including sciatic-functional-index, sensory indices, and electrodiagnostics; in addition to standard immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic correlates of axon and myelin morphology. Results Sustained early 4-AP administration increased the speed and extent of behavioral recovery too rapidly to be explained by axonal regeneration. 4-AP also enhanced recovery of nerve conduction velocity, promoted remyelination, and increased axonal area post-injury. 4-AP treatment also enabled the rapid distinction between incomplete and complete nerve lesions. Conclusion 4-AP singularly provides both a new potential therapy to promote durable recovery and remyelination in acute peripheral nerve injury and a means of identifying lesions in which this therapy would be most likely to be of value. The ability to distinguish injuries that may respond to extended therapy without intervention can offer benefit to wounded soldiers.

Download Full-text

Localized and Sustained Delivery of Erythropoietin from PLGA Microspheres Promotes Functional Recovery and Nerve Regeneration in Peripheral Nerve Injury

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/478103 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wei Zhang ◽

Yuan Gao ◽

Yan Zhou ◽

Jianheng Liu ◽

Licheng Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Nerve ◽

Nerve Injury ◽

Peripheral Nerve Injury ◽

Intraperitoneal Injection ◽

Sustained Delivery ◽

Plga Microspheres ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Injury Recovery ◽

Daily Intraperitoneal Injection

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been demonstrated to exert neuroprotective effects on peripheral nerve injury recovery. Though daily intraperitoneal injection of EPO during a long period of time was effective, it was a tedious procedure. In addition, only limited amount of EPO could reach the injury sites by general administration, and free EPO is easily degradedin vivo. In this study, we encapsulated EPO in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. Bothin vitroandin vivorelease assays showed that the EPO-PLGA microspheres allowed sustained release of EPO within a period of two weeks. After administration of such EPO-PLGA microspheres, the peripheral nerve injured rats had significantly better recovery compared with those which received daily intraperitoneal injection of EPO, empty PLGA microspheres, or saline treatments. This was supported by the functional, electrophysiological, and histological evaluations of the recovery done at week 8 postoperatively. We conclude that sustained delivery of EPO could be achieved by using EPO-PLGA microspheres, and such delivery method could further enhance the recovery function of EPO in nerve injury recovery.

Download Full-text