Ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes motor reinnervation of the musculocutaneous nerve in an experimental model of end-to-side neurorrhaphy.

Dubový P, Raška O, Klusáková I, Stejskal L, Celakovský P, Haninec P

BMC neuroscience22 Jun 2011Cited by 21 (Europe PMC)

PMID21696588PMCIDPMC3224149DOI10.1186/1471-2202-12-58PepBankPUB-21696588

Summary

BackgroundIt is difficult to repair nerve if proximal stump is unavailable or autogenous nerve grafts are insufficient for reconstructing extensive nerve damage. Therefore, alternative methods have been developed, including lateral anastomosis based on axons' ability to send out collateral sprouts into denervated nerve. The different capacity of a sensory or motor axon to send a sprout is controversial and may be controlled by cytokines and/or neurotrophic factors like ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess collateral sprouts sent out by intact motor and sensory axons in the end-to-side neurorrhaphy model following intrathecal administration of CNTF in comparison with phosphate buffered saline (vehiculum) and Cerebrolysin. The distal stump of rat transected musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) was attached in an end-to-side fashion with ulnar nerve. CNTF, Cerebrolysin and vehiculum were administered intrathecally for 2 weeks, and all animals were allowed to survive for 2 months from operation. Numbers of spinal motor and dorsal root ganglia neurons were estimated following their retrograde labeling by Fluoro-Ruby and Fluoro-Emerald applied to ulnar and musculocutaneous nerve, respectively. Reinnervation of biceps brachii muscles was assessed by electromyography, behavioral test, and diameter and myelin sheath thickness of regenerated axons.ResultsVehiculum or Cerebrolysin administration resulted in significantly higher numbers of myelinated axons regenerated into the MCN stumps compared with CNTF treatment. By contrast, the mean diameter of the myelinated axons and their myelin sheath thickness in the cases of Cerebrolysin- or CNTF-treated animals were larger than were those for rats treated with vehiculum. CNTF treatment significantly increased the percentage of motoneurons contributing to reinnervation of the MCN stumps (to 17.1%) when compared with vehiculum or Cerebrolysin treatments (at 9.9 or 9.6%, respectively). Reduced numbers of myelinated axons and simultaneously increased numbers of motoneurons contributing to reinnervation of the MCN improved functional reinnervation of the biceps brachii muscle after CNTF treatment.ConclusionThe present experimental study confirms end-to-side neurorrhaphy as an alternative method for reconstructing severed peripheral nerves. CNTF promotes motor reinnervation of the MCN stump after its end-to-side neurorrhaphy with ulnar nerve and improves functional recovery of the biceps brachii muscle.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with end-to-side neurorrhaphy, Cerebrolysin produced significantly more regenerated myelinated axons in musculocutaneous nerve stumps than CNTF.
In plain wordsIn rats, Cerebrolysin produced more regenerated myelinated axons than CNTF after nerve repair.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseRegenerated myelinated axon number
Study
ratn: not reported in source
End-to-side musculocutaneous nerve neurorrhaphy
Comparator
CNTF
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecally · 2 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Vehiculum or Cerebrolysin administration resulted in significantly higher numbers of myelinated axons regenerated into the MCN stumps compared with CNTF treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The distal stump of rat transected musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) was attached in an end-to-side fashion with ulnar nerve.
Summary · context
CNTF, Cerebrolysin and vehiculum were administered intrathecally for 2 weeks, and all animals were allowed to survive for 2 months from operation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2169658801
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with end-to-side neurorrhaphy, myelinated axon diameter was larger with Cerebrolysin than with vehiculum.
In plain wordsIn rats, myelinated axons were wider with Cerebrolysin than with vehiculum after nerve repair.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseMyelinated axon diameter
Study
ratn: not reported in source
End-to-side musculocutaneous nerve neurorrhaphy
Comparator
Vehiculum
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecally · 2 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
By contrast, the mean diameter of the myelinated axons and their myelin sheath thickness in the cases of Cerebrolysin- or CNTF-treated animals were larger than were those for rats treated with vehiculum.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The distal stump of rat transected musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) was attached in an end-to-side fashion with ulnar nerve.
Summary · context
CNTF, Cerebrolysin and vehiculum were administered intrathecally for 2 weeks, and all animals were allowed to survive for 2 months from operation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2169658802
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with end-to-side neurorrhaphy, myelin sheaths were thicker with Cerebrolysin than with vehiculum.
In plain wordsIn rats, myelin sheaths were thicker with Cerebrolysin than with vehiculum after nerve repair.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseMyelin sheath thickness
Study
ratn: not reported in source
End-to-side musculocutaneous nerve neurorrhaphy
Comparator
Vehiculum
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecally · 2 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
By contrast, the mean diameter of the myelinated axons and their myelin sheath thickness in the cases of Cerebrolysin- or CNTF-treated animals were larger than were those for rats treated with vehiculum.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The distal stump of rat transected musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) was attached in an end-to-side fashion with ulnar nerve.
Summary · context
CNTF, Cerebrolysin and vehiculum were administered intrathecally for 2 weeks, and all animals were allowed to survive for 2 months from operation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2169658803
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with end-to-side neurorrhaphy, motoneuron contribution to reinnervation was significantly lower with Cerebrolysin than with CNTF.
In plain wordsIn rats, fewer motoneurons contributed to nerve reinnervation with Cerebrolysin than with CNTF.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
DecreaseMotoneuron contribution to reinnervation
Study
ratn: not reported in source
End-to-side musculocutaneous nerve neurorrhaphy
Comparator
CNTF
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecally · 2 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Measurements
Motoneuron contribution
9.6%
Cerebrolysin
Motoneuron contribution
17.1%
CNTF
Source sentences
Summary
CNTF treatment significantly increased the percentage of motoneurons contributing to reinnervation of the MCN stumps (to 17.1%) when compared with vehiculum or Cerebrolysin treatments (at 9.9 or 9.6%, respectively).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The distal stump of rat transected musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) was attached in an end-to-side fashion with ulnar nerve.
Summary · context
CNTF, Cerebrolysin and vehiculum were administered intrathecally for 2 weeks, and all animals were allowed to survive for 2 months from operation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2169658804

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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