The changes in neurotrophic properties of the peripheral nerves extracts following blocking of BDNF activity.

Objectives: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of adult rats are unable to regenerate their axons after optic nerve injury and soon after they enter the pathway of apoptosis. They may, however, survive and regenerate new axons in response to application of specific peripheral nerve extracts that presumably contain a range of neurotrophic substances. One of the recognized substances of proven neurotrophic activity is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Do peripheral nerve extracts protect retinal ganglion cells from axotomy-induced death?

Purpose: Study the effect of peripheral nerve extracts and BDNF on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) regeneration in adult rats.

Methods: Postmicrosomal fractions were obtained from 7-day, predegenerated, as well as non-predegenerated peripheral adult rats nerves. Autologous connective tissue chambers filled with fibrin were implanted into a gap-injury site in the optic nerve.

Regeneration of sciatic nerves of adult rats induced by extracts from distal stumps of pre-degenerated peripheral nerves.

Despite numerous experimental and clinical attempts to reconstruct injuries of peripheral nerves, the methods developed until now have not been sufficiently effective. We examined the influence of extracts (postmicrosomal fractions) obtained from non-pre-degenerated or 7-day-pre-degenerated distal segments of peripheral nerves on the regeneration of injured sciatic nerves of male adult rats. The extracts were introduced to the site of injury with autologous connective tissue chambers filled with fibrin.

Experimental hyperthyroidism increases the effectiveness of predegenerated peripheral nerve graft implantation into hippocampus of adult rats.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to ascertain whether experimental hyperthyroidism changes the neurotrophic activity of 14- and 21-day-predegenerated peripheral nerve grafts towards CNS neurites.

Methods: Hyperthyroidism was induced by subcutaneous injections of T_4. Autologous peripheral nerve grafts were implanted into the hippocampus of both euthyrotic and hyperthyrotic animals 14 or 21 days after sciatic nerve transection (groups ET14, Et21, Ht14 and Ht21, respectively).