Download PDF
J Reconstr Microsurg 2000; 16(3): 0219-0226
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-7556
Copyright © 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel: +1(212)584-4662

Long Nerve Allografts in Sheep with Cyclosporin a Immunosuppression

Takeshi Matsuyama, Rajiv Midha, Susan E. Mackinnon, Catherine A. Munro, Pui-Yeun Wong, Lee C. Ang
  • Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery; Trauma Research Program, and Department of Pathology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto; and Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

-Rodent studies of nerve allografts are limited by a relatively short length of graft segment. The authors attempted to establish an outbred sheep model that would allow the study of longer, more clinically relevant nerve gaps. Using outbred ewes, two 8-cm long radial sensory nerves were grafted into gaps (5 cm) in the median nerve. Sheep received an autograft and an allograft. Four sheep were immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin A (CsA) and four were controls. Blood CsA levels greater than 1000 μg/L were obtained. Systemic immunosuppression resulted in severe opportunistic infections, and the sheep were sacrificed between 35 and 47 days following surgery. Histologically, in the autografts and CsA-treated allografts, evidence of nerve regeneration was seen. Non-immunosuppressed allografts were clearly rejected. While clear differences in the histology of experimental and control grafted nerve tissues were seen, the sheep allograft model presents considerable challenges due to immunosuppression-related infectious complications.

      >