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Abstract
Acellular nerve grafts are a desirable alternative to autografts, both because the source of acellular nerves is potentially unlimited and because they have the same matrix structure as natural nerves, which would facilitate axon growth from the defective nerve stump. Although some acellular nerves have been developed, most of them were studied in isogenic transplantation models and evaluated only by histological observation. In the present study, novel allogeneic acellular nerves prepared using the cold isostatic pressuring (CIP) method were developed and assessed as a potential substitute for autografts. The host immune response to acellular nerves and fresh nerves was analyzed using Lewis rats as donors and SD rats as recipients, which is the allogeneic transplantation model, by subcutaneous implantation for one month. In addition, sciatic nerve transplantation into a 10-mm nerve gap was carried out using the same model, and the axonal growth in acellular nerve transplantation was evaluated histologically and electrophysiologically, and compared with that of axons in the autograft transplant area. The subcutaneously implanted acellular nerves contained more macrophages and less vasculature than the allogeneic fresh nerves. In spite of these results of the subcutaneous implantation, Schwann cell infiltration in the graft transplanted into the sciatic nerve gap was observed after the short-term transplantation. The myogenic potential, which was measured as an index of electrophysiological function in acellular nerve transplantation, was also recovered in the long-term transplantation. Our results indicate that the acellular nerves developed herein have the potential to support nerve regeneration and might be useful as an alternative to autografts.