Reconstruction of the pelvic autonomic nerve using artificial nerve graft after rectal cancer surgery

The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of reconstructing the severed pelvic autonomic nerve using an artificial nerve graft after rectal cancer surgery. In this study, Laparotomy was performed in Beagle dogs and nerves of 1 cm long were cut from the hypogastric nerve. Then Fifteen Beagle dogs with 30 hypogastric nerves were randomly assigned to five groups, Group A: nerves were reconstructed with copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGA) tube and Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs); Group B: nerves were reconstructed with PLGA tube; Group C: nerves were reconstructed with autologous peritoneum tube and BMSCs; Group D: nerves were reconstructed with autologous peritoneum tube; Group E: nerves were reconstructed with autologous nerve graft. Three months later, the grafted nerve segment was removed and a series of examinations was performed, including immunohistological staining of nerves, immunostaining of neurofilament, transmission electron microscope observation and axon counts. Results showed that the regenerated nerve fibers crossing the anastomosis of the hypogastric nerves in all groups. The number and density of nerve fibers in group A and group C was similar to group E, better than group B and group D. The difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). Therefore, we made a conclusion that reconstruction of the pelvic autonomic nerve using artificial nerve was technically feasible and BMSCs could promote nerve regeneration.