Aim: One of the major injuries of the nervous system is that of peripheral nerves. Although peripheral nerves show some capacity of regeneration after injury, the extent of regeneration is not remarkable. The present study aimed to evaluate the regeneration of the transected sciatic nerve by membrane and betamethasone in rats.
Material and methods: In this study twenty-eight adult male rats were divided into four equal groups including 1. Control group (Ctrl); 2. Betamethasone group (Beta); 3. Membrane group (Mem); 4. Membrane and Betamethasone group (Mem-Beta). Functional recovery was evaluated at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks post surgery. At 8 weeks after surgery, electromyographical (EMG) and histological assessments were performed.
Results: 8 weeks after surgery, sciatic functional index (SFI) and withdrawl reflex latency (WRL) reaction time were decreased significantly (p 0.05) in Mem+Beta group as compared to the control, beta and Mem groups respectively. In EMG test latency and amplitude of impulses improved in Mem+Beta group compared to other groups (p 0.05). Histological assessments performed at 8 weeks after surgery showed significant increase in the number of nerve fibers, diameter of nerve fibers and myelin thickness in Mem+Beta group as compared to the Ctrl, Beta and Mem groups (p 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed the positive effects of the chitosan membrane together with betamethasone on nerve regeneration of the transected sciatic nerve in a rat model.