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Nerve guide with double walled GDNF-containing microspheres improves recovery after facial nerve injury in rodents
Fuat Baris Bengur, MD; Chiaki Komatsu, MD; Jocelyn S. Baker, BS; Caroline Nadia Fedor, BA; Aanchal Totwani; Shawn Loder, MD; Zhazira Irgebay, BA; W. Vincent Nerone, BA; Mario G. Solari, MD; Kacey G. Marra, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
2022-01-15
Presenter: Fuat Baris Bengur, MD
Affidavit:
I certify that the material proposed for presentation in this abstract has not been published in any scientific journal or previously presented at a major meeting.
Director Name: Kacey Marra
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Basic Science Research
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
Background
Rapid functional recovery after facial nerve injury is critical to restoring expression. Bioengineered nerve guides, acting as regenerative scaffolds, has the potential to enhance the recovery. This can be improved by addition of exogenous neuro-supportive agents such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to improve axonal growth. In this study, we evaluated efficacy of a composite poly(caprolactone) nerve guide containing double-walled GDNF microspheres on functional, electrophysiological, and histological outcomes in a rat facial nerve injury model.
Methods
Rats underwent transection and repair of the buccal branch of the facial nerve and were treated as follows: a) transection and repair only, b) empty guide, c) GDNF-guide. Weekly measurements of the whisking movements for protraction and retraction angles were recorded. At the endpoint of 12-weeks, compound muscle action potentials at the whisker pad were assessed and nerve, muscle, and whisker pad were collected for histomorphometric analysis, including Schwann cell analysis.
Results
GDNF-guide treated rats displayed earliest peak and highest overall recovery in weekly whisking amplitude (p<0.001). Compound muscle action potentials were significantly higher after GDNF-guide placement versus all others (p<0.001). Mean muscle fiber surface area was the highest (p<0.01) and the axonal integrity loss was less prominent with GDNF-guides. Gross morphology of the whisker pad was not different across the groups.
Conclusion
The novel tissue engineered nerve guide containing GDNF microspheres enhances recovery after facial nerve transection. Results support the clinical viability of these guides to enhance recovery after nerve injury and hold promise to facilitate recovery in defects with larger gaps.
