The Influence Of Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor(HGF/SF) On Muscular Neurotization:A Preliminary Experimental Study In The Rabbit

Objective: To reinnervate the denervated muscles through suturing them together with muscles having normal nerve and blood supply after removing their facia and use hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) to observe its influence on muscular neurotization. Material and methods: We cut the ulnar nerves in nine New Zealand rabbits and produce denervation of theflexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), which is innervated by the ulnar nerve. Both of the flexor carpi ulnaris and the superficial head of the flexor digitorum profundus(FDP), which is innervated by the median nerve, were sutured to each other along their total length with fine silk sutures after removing their facia, and hepatecyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) was used around the sutured line. In the control group, HGF/SF was not used. EMG was used to observe the electrophysiological changes in the denervated muscles. The muscle specimen were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, trichome, combined silver-acetylcholinesterase, and myosin adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase; both acid and base preincubation). Results:EMG recordings showed evoked potentials in the denervated muscles six months after the operation, and a marked variability was observed compared with those in the control group. The combined silver-acetylcholinesterase stain demonstrated that motor nerve axons grow －3－from the normal muscle and establish new motor endplates with the denervated muscles. Myosin adenosine triphosphatase showed type group in the denervated muscles, demonstrating reinnervation in the paralyzed muscles. Conclusion: Preliminary EMG, histologic, and histochemical findings showed muscular neurotization between the barred muscles, and reinnervated muscles have electrophysiological activities and contractile properties. HGF/SF can promote the regeneration of motor nerve axons and decrease muscle atrophy in some degree.