OBJECT: Hydrogels are nontoxic, chemically inert synthetic polymers with a high water content and large surface area that provide mechanical support for cells and axons when implanted into spinal cord tissue. METHODS: Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were prepared by radical copolymerization of monomers in the presence of fractionated NaCl particles. Male Wistar rats underwent complete spinal cord transection at the T-9 level. To bridge the lesion, positively charged HEMA hydrogels were implanted either immediately or 1 week after spinal cord transection; control animals were left untreated. Histological evaluation was performed 3 months after spinal cord transection to measure the volume of the pseudocyst cavities and the ingrowth of tissue elements into the hydrogels. RESULTS: The hydrogel implants adhered well to the spinal cord tissue. Histological evaluation showed ingrowth of connective tissue elements, blood vessels, neurofilaments, and Schwann cells into the hydrogels. Morphometric analysis of lesions showed a statistically significant reduction in pseudocyst volume in the treated animals compared with controls and in the delayed treatment group compared with the immediate treatment group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Positively charged HEMA hydrogels can bridge a posttraumatic spinal cord cavity and provide a scaffold for the ingrowth of regenerating axons. The results indicate that delayed implantation can be more effective than immediate reconstructive surgery.

• MeSH
• axony fyziologie   patologie   MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• cysty patologie   MeSH
• financování organizované MeSH
• hojení ran fyziologie   MeSH
• hydrogely chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• methakryláty chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• mícha krevní zásobení   patologie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• neurofibrily ultrastruktura   MeSH
• paraplegie patofyziologie   MeSH
• pojivová tkáň patologie   MeSH
• poranění míchy chirurgie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• regenerace nervu fyziologie   MeSH
• řízená tkáňová regenerace MeSH
• Schwannovy buňky patologie   MeSH
• tkáňové podpůrné struktury MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• srovnávací studie MeSH