Topical application of mitomycin C prevents epineural scar formation in rats

Abstract

The role of topically applied mitomycin C in preventing postoperative perineural fibrosis was examined by gross anatomical dissection and histological analysis in rats. The sciatic nerve was exposed bilaterally in 24 Wistar adult male rats, and an abrasion injury was produced on the exposed surface of the biceps femoris muscle in all animals. In the experimental group, cotton pads soaked with mitomycin C (0.5 mg/ml) were placed around the nerves for 5 min, whereas cotton pads soaked with saline were applied to the control group. Four weeks after surgery, the neurolysis sites were evaluated by blinded surgical dissection. Perineural adhesions were graded using a numerical grading scheme. The scar tissue formation index was also calculated, and a grading was made according to the number of fibroblasts/fibrocytes counted around the epineurium in histological evaluation. Mitomycin C-treated nerves showed significantly less perineural adhesions than controls. Quantification of the dense connective tissue surrounding the nerves revealed a statistically significant reduction around nerves treated with mitomycin C, and the number of fibroblast/fibrocytes was also significantly reduced. Application of topical mitomycin C might be effective in preventing epineural scar formation after neurolysis of peripheral nerves.

Visceral mobilization can lyse and prevent peritoneal adhesions in a rat model

“…Prevention is a far more desirable goal (Gomel et al, 1996;Mettler, 2003;Scott-Coombes et al, 1993), and much effort has been expended on adhesion prevention using various chemical compounds and barriers (Corrales et al, 2008;Guo et al, 2009;Ilbay et al, 2004;Kutlay et al, 2004;Mettler et al, 2003;Oncel et al, 2004). Systematic reviews of these treatments have reported that none consistently prevent adhesion formation (Kumar et al, 2009;Metwally et al, 2006).…”

Il10 and poly‐dl‐lactide‐ɛ‐caprolactone conduits in critical size nerve defect bridging—An experimental study

“…Single applications of scar‐suppressing drugs with reproducible results are well published in Refs. Some groups could even show that topical exposition of drugs to injured nerves for 5 min leads to significant differences . Thus, IL10 incorporated in polymerized fibrin with release over a time period of almost 2 weeks as used in our study is likely to be sufficient.…”

The effects of low-dose radiation in the treatment of sciatic nerve injury in rats

“…In the clinical course tethering of the nerves results in not only pain but also sensorial and motor deficits due to compression of the nerves (1,5,26,33). Preventing from or reduction in epineural scarring increases peripheral nerve surgery success, decreases the complications and facilitates further secondary operations (12,34).…”