This paper compares the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the regeneration process in non-vascularized nerve grafts and vascularized nerve grafts in the case of poor recipient bed condition.

One hundred and six Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; CNG (Conventional nerve graft, n=25), CNG-F (Conventional nerve graft treated with bFGF, n=27), VNG (Vascularized nerve graft, n=25), and VNG-F (Vascularized nerve graft treated with bFGF, n=29). Each type of nerve graft was 6 mm in length, and inserted into a silicone tube, to prevent revascularization from the recipient bed. The bFGF solution (10 L, 400 ng/mL) was injected into the silicone tube in the CNG-F and VNG-F groups, and collagen solution (10 L, 2.4 mg/mL) was injected in the CNG and VNG groups.

The latency period delay decreased and the amplitude of motor action potential, the number of myelinated axons, and the number of large myelinated axons (over 5 m in diameter) increased significantly in the CNG-F group versus the CNG group 4 weeks after the operation. The amplitude of the motor action potential, the mean diameter, the number of myelinated axons, and the number of large myelinated axons increased significantly in the VNG-F group versus the CNG-F and the VNG groups 2 and 4 weeks after the operation.

These results suggest that vascularized nerve graft treated with bFGF is one of the best ways of repairing the segmental peripheral nerve defect.