Abstract

Braz J Med Biol Res, April 2011, Volume 44(4) 327-331

Effect of neurotrophic factor, MDP, on rats’ nerve regeneration

Correspondence and Footnotes A.A. Fornazari, M.R. de Rezende, R. Mattar Jr., R.I. Taira, G.B. dos Santos and R.G. Paulos

Laboratório de Microcirurgia, Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Correspondence and Footnotes ^{Correspondence and Footnotes} Correspondence and Footnotes

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the immune-modulating effects of the neurotrophic factor N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) on median nerve regeneration in rats. We used male Wistar rats (120-140 days of age, weighing 250-332 g) and compared the results of three different techniques of nerve repair: 1) epineural neurorrhaphy using sutures alone (group S - 10 rats), 2) epineural neurorrhaphy using sutures plus fibrin tissue adhesive (FTA; group SF - 20 rats), and 3) sutures plus FTA, with MDP added to the FTA (group SFM - 20 rats). Functional assessments using the grasp test were performed weekly for 12 weeks to identify recovery of flexor muscle function in the fingers secondary to median nerve regeneration. Histological analysis was also utilized. The total number and diameter of myelinated fibers were determined in each proximal and distal nerve segment. Two indices, reported as percentage, were calculated from these parameters, namely, the regeneration index and the diameter change index. By the 8th week, superiority of group SFM over group S became apparent in the grasping test (P = 0.005). By the 12th week, rats that had received MDP were superior in the grasping test compared to both group S (P < 0.001) and group SF (P = 0.001). Moreover, group SF was better in the grasping test than group S (P = 0.014). However, no significant differences between groups were identified by histological analysis. In the present study, rats that had received MDP obtained better function, in the absence of any significant histological differences.

Key words: Grasping test; Neurotrophic factor; N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP)

Introduction

When peripheral nerve is damaged it undergoes the degeneration process known as Wallerian degeneration. After nerve injury, a local inflammatory reaction occurs that involves macrophages. These cells, in turn, are responsible for many of the fundamental events that occur during the regenerative process. Macrophages play a crucial role in processes of Wallerian degeneration and subsequent regeneration of peripheral nerves (1). The use of neurotrophic factors has been of special interest to researchers investigating the best ways to stimulate nerve regeneration. N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) is an immuno-adjuvant that promotes increased macrophage activity (2). When injected into the crushed sciatic nerve, MDP activates macrophages and promotes recovery of walking locomotion in rats (3). Some results indicate that locally applied MDP stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration in rats (4). Based on the feasibility of using fibrin glue mixed with the neurotrophic factor, we decided to study the immunomodulatory effect of MDP on the process of peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat experimental model.

Material and Methods

Animals

Healthy male Wistar rats between 120 and 140 days of age and weighing 250-332 g were used, all without motor deficits. Rats were maintained in cages in groups of 5. The cages were maintained in an acclimatized atmosphere under hygienic conditions, with food and water provided ad libitum. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil, and was conducted according to the ethical guidelines for animal experimentation established by the Brazilian School of Animal Experimentation and by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Groups

Rats were anesthetized intraperitoneally (ip) with 30 to 40 mg/kg pentobarbital. An incision was made in the prepped and sterilized axillary area of the right upper extremity, and the median nerve was identified and dissected. The nerve was transected with micro-scissors 5 mm proximal to the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the lesion was immediately repaired always by the same surgeon.

Three groups of rats were used: group S (N = 10) was subjected to end-to-end epineural neurorrhaphy without tension, using four simple 10-0 mononylon sutures. Group SF (N = 20) was subjected to epineural neurorrhaphy without tension, using two simple sutures plus 0.10 mL fibrin tissue adhesive (FTA; Tissucol^®, Immuno AG, Austria). Group SFM (N = 20) was subjected to the same procedure as group SF, except that 0.1 mL neurotrophic factor MDP (Sigma Chemical Co., USA) was added to the FTA. MDP was maintained at 15°C and diluted in 1 mL saline to a 2-mM concentration. After adding an equal volume of FTA, the final concentration of MDP was 1 mM. Surgery was performed under a light microscope at 12X magnification. After nerve repair, the surgical wound was closed with 3.0 mononylon sutures. Rats were excluded from analysis for the following reasons: perioperative or post-operative death of the animal, tissue loss in the injured area, autophagy or other significant mutilation in an animal, deep infection at the site of the lesion, and postoperative loss of more than 10% of preoperative weight. For the three groups, 50 rats were used. Six rats were excluded from the SFM group (N = 20). Two weeks postoperatively, 3 rats exhibited autophagy in the area of the surgical wound and significant motor alteration. During the 5th postoperative week, one rat died of an idiopathic cause. Two rats failed to exhibit any measurable flexor strength during the grasping test over the entire 12-week postoperative period and, once euthanized and examined, both dehiscence of the sutures and tissue loss in the area of the median nerve lesion were noted.

Functional analysis

All rats were submitted to a grasping test for functional evaluation, as classically described (5). For the test, each rat was elevated by the tail and stimulated to grab a metal hook that comprised the apex of a metal pyramidal frame. The total frame weighed 700 g and rested on a conventional digital scale. The left upper extremity of the rat had been previously immobilized with adhesive tape. To examine finger flexion, we observed the rat grasping the hook while being held. At the same time, a second observer filmed the procedure and recorded the weight registered on the scale at the exact moment that the rat released the hook. The difference between the weight of the metal frame (700 g) and the weight registered by the second observer was used to estimate the force generated by the muscle flexors of the fingers. When there was flexion of the palm or wrist, the data were excluded.

Rats were submitted to the grasp test both preoperatively and postoperatively. After repair of the nerve injury, each rat underwent the grasping test three times every 2 weeks through the 12th week, with the average of each three grouped tests used to represent the mean flexor strength at each time. These values were compared between the three groups to determine the rate and degree of functional recovery. Rats were weighed before each grasp test. At the end of the 12th postoperative week, rats were sacrificed by ip injection of a lethal dose of pentobarbital.

Histological analysis

Ten rats were chosen at random from each group. The nerve segments proximal and distal to the repair were dissected. A 2-cm segment of the nerve including the repair region was removed. Two 4-mm long segments were obtained, 4 mm proximal and 4 mm distal to the repair site, and fixed in a solution of 2% osmium tetroxide. Transverse sectioning was performed and 1-μm sections were obtained and stained with 1% toluidine blue. For histological analysis, each section was photographed using a digital camera (Coolpix; Nikon, Japan) coupled to a light microscope, the objective of which had a magnification of 40 times. One random field of each proximal and distal segment was photographed. Each picture captured an area of 36,000 µm². The pictures from the proximal and distal segment of each nerve were analyzed using the Sigma Scan Pro 5.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA). We obtained the total number and diameter of myelinated fibers. Two indices, expressed as a percentage, were calculated from these parameters, namely, the regeneration index and the diameter change index. The regeneration index was calculated by dividing the total number of regenerated axons in the distal segment by the total number of regenerated axons in the proximal segment, resulting in the percentage of axons that crossed the repair site. The diameter change index was calculated by dividing the mean diameter of regenerated axons in the distal segment by the mean diameter of regenerated axons in the proximal segment (6). These indexes were compared to the results obtained in the functional evaluations to determine the extent to which functional recovery reflected the histological findings (6).

Statistical analysis

Data are reported as means ± standard deviation. For the functional test, data were analyzed by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Tukey post hoc test. For histological analysis, one-way ANOVA was used with the level of significance set at P < 0.05.

Results

Functional analysis

Weight gain was observed in all rats throughout the 12 weeks, and therefore it was not necessary to exclude any animal due to weight loss.

Figure 1 illustrates the median nerve profiles of the three study groups obtained at the time of the first evaluation (t0) and at the end of the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks after surgery. After surgery, all groups ultimately displayed evidence of increasing median nerve function over time. Statistically significant differences were apparent, however, at week 8 (P = 0.019) and week 12 (P < 0.001). Post hoc analysis of week 8 data revealed greater grasping strength in group SFM than in group S (P = 0.05). At week 12, the grasping strength of group SFM was greater than that of both group S (P < 0.001) and group SF (P = 0.001) and, at the same time, the strength of group SF was greater than that of group S (P = 0.014). At week 12, groups SF and S failed to achieve their respective average values estimated before surgery (t0). The SFM group showed total functional recovery.

Histological analysis for axonal regeneration

Table 1 presents descriptive statistics for the three study groups. No difference was observed between the parameters evaluated. The requirement for similar variances between groups was met, justifying the use of ANOVA.

Discussion

Group SFM was functionally superior to the other two groups at weeks 8 and 12 and showed total functional recovery over 12 weeks, although histological analysis failed to reveal any significant difference between the three groups. Fukuyama et al. (3) compared intrafascicular injection of 50 µL Ringer solution (Lactec^® injection, Ohtsuka, Japan) with or without MDP at 2 mg/mL into the crushed sciatic nerve of rats. The injection was done with a syringe attached with an ultrafine needle (29G) slightly distal to the crushed site. In the MDP group, they reported an increase in the axonal elongation measured by the pinch test 5 days after the crush operation (P < 0.05) and increased functional recovery measured by the sciatic nerve functional index in walking track analysis, 3 weeks after the operation and injection (P < 0.01) (3).

In our study, histological analysis failed to confirm any immunoadjuvant activity of MDP. The discrepancy between the results of the functional and histological analysis might be explained by the grasping test being able to assess viable nerve fibers among those still regenerating. Moreover, regenerating axons might undergo misdirected growth leading to aberrant muscle reinnervation (7,8) and the presence of polyneuronally innervated muscle fibers may reduce the efficiency of peripheral nerve regeneration (9). The group with the worst results was the suture alone group (S), especially compared to the MDP-treated group (SFM) at weeks 8 and 12. As some investigators have speculated, neurorrhaphy could hinder nerve regeneration in several ways: by escalating the inflammatory response at the repair point, by causing deviations in the path of those axons otherwise aiming towards the distal segment of the nerve (10), by temporarily reducing blood flow through the microcirculation (11), and via the formation of mechanical obstructions such as scar tissue.

The use of neurotrophic substances has been of special interest to those investigating ways by which to optimize nerve regeneration. MDP is a minimum structural unit responsible for the immunoadjuvant activities of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans in a variety of species (4). It is known that MDP can be considered a functional lipopolysaccharide (LPS) analogue (12). MDP is an immuno-adjuvant that promotes increased activity among microglial phagocytes, Schwann cells and macrophages (2). Wallerian degeneration involves cellular and molecular activities coordinated by a complex network of cytokines that also contribute to macrophage recruitment and activation and, consequently, to macrophage-dependent functions like myelin removal by phagocytosis (13). A decreased response of these cells in injured nerves has been associated with decreased axonal regeneration (14). However, an intervention can accelerate the regenerative process by introducing inflammatory cells or an enhanced inflammatory response (14). The macrophages rapidly remove myelin debris that contain neurite growth inhibitors like myelin-associated glycoprotein. They release cytokines such as interleukin -1 (IL-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1), which probably stimulate Schwann cells and other types in the nerves (3) and growth factors that facilitate axonal regeneration (14). One of the activation mechanisms of macrophages occurs through tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which is one of the first cytokines synthesized by Schwann cells during the Wallerian degeneration process (15). TNF-α directly stimulates the macrophages (16) and induces the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by fibroblasts, promoting macrophage activation. MDP is capable of inducing the formation of several cytokines like TNF-α or stimulates cells to produce them (17), indirectly contributing to macrophage activation. Spinal cord cells were induced to proliferate temporarily by the peripheral administration of certain stimulators of the innate immune system, including MDP (18). Toll-like receptor (TLR) and NOD2 ligands are key receptors that allow mammals to detect the presence of infection by recognizing specific microorganism-derived biomolecules, the so-called pathogen-association molecular patterns (PAMPs). MDP is an NOD2 ligand. Recognition of PAMPs through TLR and NOD2 receptors appears to link the inflammatory and regenerative process. However, other studies have shown that myelin fraction-stimulated macrophages release neurotrophic factors that increase the survival and neurite regeneration of adult dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture (19). Adding MDP or LPS to the culture medium did not enhance neurotrophic secretion by macrophages. These observations suggest that myelin may be a specific activator of macrophages in nerve regeneration.

In summary, using a transected median nerve rat model, we demonstrated enhanced functional recovery twice along the postoperative period of 12 weeks in rats treated with the combination of suturing, fibrin tissue adhesive and the neurotrophic factor MDP compared with rats treated either with neurorrhaphy alone or with sutures plus FTA without MDP. Histological analysis, however, did not identify any difference by which to explain the enhanced functional recovery.

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Acknowledgments

Research supported by FAPESP. The neurotrophic factor MDP was supplied by the Department of Cellular Biology and Development, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Address for correspondence: A.A. Fornazari, Laboratório de Microcirurgia, Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, HC, USP, Rua Ovídio Pires de Campos, 333, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Fax: +55-11-3067-7000. E-mail: adrienfornazari@ig.com.br

Received May 15, 2010. Accepted February 3, 2011. Available online February 25, 2011. Published April 11, 2011.

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