Effectiveness of defecation reconstruction following nerve transfer in rats by PRV retrograde tracing / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective·To investigate the effectiveness of nerve transfer in repairing defecation function after spinal cord injury by the pseudorabies virus (PRV) retrograde tracing. Methods·The spinal cords were transected between L6 and S1 nerve root in 20 rats. The nerve transferring surgery was then conducted in 10 rats (Group B) and the remaining rats were control (Group A). After six months, all rats were injected with 6 μL PRV, sacrificed after 3 d and perfused with paraformaldehyde. Spinal cords were then harvested and frozen sections were prepared for observation. Results·There was no detectable infection of PRV proximal to the injury level in Group A, while infected neurons proximal to the injury level were widely observed in Group B.Conclusion·Nerve transfer has potent effect on defecation reconstruction after spinal cord injury in rats. PRV retrograde tracing can prove the existence of new neuron pathway.