Experimental evaluation of nerve graft orientation in a rat model: Functional and histological insights
Musa Ergin1
, Erkan Sabri Ertaş2, Selim Safalı2, Ebubekir Eravşar2, Egemen Odabaşı3, Sadettin Çiftci2, Ali Güleç2
1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cihanbeyli State Hospital, Konya, Türkiye
2Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Türkiye
3Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Türkiye
Keywords: Nerve graft orientation, peripheral nerve regeneration, rat model, sciatic nerve defect, sensory recovery.
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effect of nerve graft orientation on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve defect model and to compare functional and histological outcomes of normal and reverse orientation grafts, focusing on sensory and motor recovery.
Materials and methods: A total of 30 Wistar Albino rats were divided into three equal groups: a control group, a normal graft orientation group (Group A), and a reverse graft orientation group (Group B). A 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was created in the surgical groups, and the graft was applied with epineural coaptation. Functional recovery was evaluated using extensor postural thrust (EPT), pinprick, and hot plate tests, while histological analysis involved axon counts, myelin sheath thickness measurements, and the axon count change ratio.
Results: No significant difference was observed between Group A and Group B in motor function recovery as evaluated by the EPT test (p>0.05). However, Group A showed improved sensory recovery compared to Group B in the pinprick test (p=0.028). Histologically, both groups demonstrated similar ratios of axon count and myelin sheath thickness between proximal and distal segments (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Normal autograft orientation demonstrated superior sensory recovery, while no significant differences were observed in motor function or histological results. These findings highlight the importance of graft orientation for sensory regeneration and underscore the need for future studies to explore the long-term effects of graft orientation and its implications for human nerve repair, particularly in larger defects and clinical scenarios.
Citation: Ergin M, Ertaş ES, Safalı S, Eravşar E, Odabaşı E, Çiftci S, et al. Experimental evaluation of nerve graft orientation in a rat model: Functional and histological insights. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2025;36(2):340-349. doi: 10.52312/jdrs.2025.1986.
Was involved in protocol development, gaining ethical approval, all surgical procedures and data analysis: M.E.; Was involved microscopic surgical procedures: E.S.E.; Researched literature and conceived the study: S.S., E.E., E.O., S.Ç., A.G. All authors reviewed and edited the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
This work was supported by Selcuk University Scientific Research BAP grant (no: 22122004).
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.