Neural Regeneration Research, 2017 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.208595 · Published: June 1, 2017
This study investigates whether combining brain injury with tacrolimus treatment results in better regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves compared to using either method alone. The study found that the combination therapy showed improved nerve repair. The researchers induced moderate brain contusions in rats and then transected their sciatic nerves. Following the nerve injury, some rats received tacrolimus, while others did not, and outcomes were compared. The study evaluated nerve regeneration by assessing muscle atrophy, nerve fiber impairment, sciatic nerve function, muscle wet weight, action potential amplitude, and the number of neurons in the spinal cord.
The study suggests that combining brain injury and tacrolimus could be a more effective therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve injuries compared to single treatments.
Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which brain injury and tacrolimus promote nerve regeneration, which could lead to the development of targeted therapies.
The findings may have implications for the clinical management of peripheral nerve injuries, particularly in patients with concomitant brain injuries.