J Reconstr Microsurg 1999; 15(5): 351-357
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1000115
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1999 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Effects of IGF-II in a New End-To-Side Model

Jeffrey Caplan, David A. Tiangco, Julia K. Terzis
  • Microsurgical Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted for publication 1999

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) has been shown to increase the rate of axon regeneration in a number of models involving the rat sciatic nerve. This project studied the effects of IGF-II on an end-to-side nerve repair. In this study, the musculocutaneous nerve of a Sprague-Dawley rat was transected and coapted by end-to-side neurorrhaphy to the median nerve. Experimental animals received a local infusion of IGF-II at the repair site, while control animals received a local infusion of placebo solution. This new model allowed for the assessment of functional outcome through the Terzis grooming test. The use of an end-to-side repair minimized potential damage to the motor nerve donor (median nerve) and encouraged lateral axon sprouting into the severed nerve (musculocutaneous nerve). Histologic results showed that the IGF-II treated group had higher axon counts and greater myelin thickness in the reinner-vated musculocutaneous nerve. IGF-II-treated animals also had significantly greater motor-end-plate counts in the biceps muscle. Furthermore, the IGF-II group scored consistently higher in the grooming test, compared to the control group.