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Introduction/Aims: Peripheral nerve injuries result in impaired neuromuscular interactions, leading to morphological and functional alterations. Adjuvant suture repair methods have been used to improve nerve regeneration and modulate the immune response. Heterologous fibrin biopolymer (HFB), a scaffold with adhesive properties, plays a critical role in tissue repair. The aim of this study is to evaluate neuroregeneration and immune response focusing on neuromuscular recovery, using sutureassociated HFB for sciatic nerve repair.Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups (n = 10): C (control), only sciatic nerve location; D (denervated), neurotmesis and 6-mm gap removal and fixation stumps in subcutaneous tissue; S (suture), neurotmesis followed by suture; and SB (suture + HFB), neurotmesis followed by suture and HFB. Analysis of M2 macrophages (CD206 + ), as well as the morphology and morphometry of nerves, soleus muscle, and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), were performed at 7 and 30 days after surgery. Results:The SB group had the highest M2 macrophage area in both periods. After 7 days, SB was the only group similar to the C group regarding the number of axons; furthermore, after 30 days, the SB group was closer to the C group concerning blood vessel and central myonuclear numbers, NMJ angle, and connective tissue volume.After 7 days, increases in nerve area, as well as the number and area of blood vessels, were also observed in SB.Discussion: HFB potentiates the immune response, increases axonal regeneration, induces angiogenesis, prevents severe muscle degeneration, and assists in NMJ recovery. In conclusion, suture-associated HFB has major implications for improved peripheral nerve repair.

Introduction/Aims The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of statin‐associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) remain unclear. Pregnancy is associated with increased cholesterol levels. Statins may be useful during pregnancy, but their safety is uncertain. Hence, we investigated the postpartum effects of exposure to rosuvastatin and simvastatin during pregnancy in Wistar rats, targeting the neuromuscular structures. Methods Twenty‐one pregnant Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (C) treated with vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide + dH20), simvastatin (S) 62.5 mg/kg/day, and rosuvastatin (R) 10 mg/kg/day. Gavage was performed daily from the gestational days 8 to 20. At weaning, the postpartum mother tissues were collected and subjected to morphological and morphometric analysis of the soleus muscle, associated neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and the sciatic nerve; protein quantification; quantification of the cholesterol and creatine kinase in the serum; and intramuscular collagen analysis. Results An increase in morphometric parameters (area, maximum and minimum diameters, Feret diameter, and minimum Feret) was observed in NMJs from the S and R groups in comparison with the C group, and there was also a loss of common NMJ circularity. The number of myofibers with central nuclei was higher in S (17 ± 3.9, P = .0083) and R (18.86 ± 14.42, P = .0498) than in C (6.8 ± 2.6). Discussion Gestational exposure to statins induced postpartum NMJ morphology alterations in soleus muscle, which may be caused by the remodeling of clusters of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This may be associated with the development and progression of SAMS observed in clinical practice.