Safe injection of cultured Schwann cells into peripheral nerve allografts

The effects of cultured host Schwann cells on axonal regeneration in peripheral nerve allografts were studied. Fischer rats served as recipient animals and Buffalo rats provided nerve allografts. Animals were randomized into 9 groups. Rats receiving tibial nerve isografts were left untreated (group I), or injected with isogeneic Fischer Schwann cells (group II) or placebo suspension (group III). Allografts obtained from Buffalo rats were left untreated (group IV), or received isogeneic Fischer Schwann cells (group V), 2 mg/kg Cyclosporin A and Fischer Schwann cells (group VI), 5 mg/kg Cyclosporin A (group VII), or 5 mg/kg Cyclosporin A with Schwann cells (group VIII). No Schwann cell tumors were identified 4 or 8 weeks postoperatively. Group IX animals, harvested 3 days postoperatively, demonstrated no evidence of injection injury. Schwann cells modestly improved axonal regeneration in both isografts and allografts and may have a clinical role in the treatment of peripheral nerve allografts. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 20:314–323 2000