Peripheral Nerve Repair and Regeneration Using Nasal-Derived Olfactory Ensheathing Cells

Objective: To develop a method of nerve repair using nasal-derived olfactory ensheathing cells that is more successful and with less morbidity than the current gold standard method, the nerve graft.

Design: Rat sciatic nerve model using various conduits containing nasal-derived olfactory ensheathing cells to bridge a 15-mm nerve gap.

Patients/Material and Methods: The olfactory mucosa is a neuroepithelium with a unique ability for neurogenesis. Olfactory ensheathing cells are unique glial cells that ensheath olfactory neurons from the olfactory mucosa to the olfactory bulb. Olfactory ensheathing cells can be easily obtained from a nasal biopsy, without any disturbance in olfaction.

Peripheral nerve injury is a common problem with significant morbidity. The current gold standard method for peripheral nerve repair with gap is the nerve graft, which is associated with moderately successful results, donor site anesthesia, neuroma formation, and technical difficulty.

Five experimental models were used to test whether nasal-derived olfactory ensheathing cells and stem cells improved regeneration across a nerve gap of 15 mm in rat sciatic nerves. Silicone tubes, nerve grafts, biodegradable tubes, and vein grafts were used as conduits, with nasal-derived olfactory ensheathing cells suspended in medium, fibrin glue, or extracellular matrix sponges. After 3–6 months, the animals underwent behavioral, electrophysiological, and histological assessment to determine the extent of axonal regeneration.

Results: To be presented.

Conclusions: Vein grafts containing nasal-derived olfactory ensheathing cells are as successful as the current gold standard nerve graft in a rat sciatic nerve model.