Thus, the birefringence of the collagen and myelin could be better

depicted close to the epineurium. When the birefringence of the collagen was compensated, dark regions forming large bundles could be seen, and were interpreted as the presence of extracellular matrix molecules associated with regenerating fibers. By compensating the birefringence of the myelin, this correlation became more evident by the increasing brightness of the collagen. For the TPCLF group, the organization of the nerve was similar to that of the group described above, although the amplitude of the collagen birefringence of these samples was greater and the fibers presented a more compact Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical disposition, indicating a pattern closer to that of the normal nerve. The collagen fibers were distributed in smaller bundles within the nerve in a homogeneous way intermingled with other endoneural nerve elements. This could be made more evident by compensating the birefringence of the myelin, resulting in a slightly brighter image of the nerve

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical as a whole. The more aggregated disposition of these elements, as a result of the implant with the collagen with a supra-molecular Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical organization, reinforced the positive role on the Schwann cells during the regenerative process. Discussion For years, the tubulization technique has been studied in an Sirolimus molecular weight attempt to better understand the regenerative process, and in some cases, to replace the autograft approach (Fields et al. 1989; Yannas and Hill 2004; Pierucci et al. 2009). Tubulization allows for the use of molecules from the extracellular matrix on the inside of the tube, in order to optimize peripheral nerve regeneration. These strategies Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical have shown promising results, positively influencing angiogenesis and leading to proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the Schwann cells (Keilhoff

et al. 2003; Badylak et al. 2009). The architecture and development of biological implants are in constant evolution, starting from Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical an inert mechanical support and progressing to a dynamic platform for adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and cell next interaction with the physiological microenvironment (Verdú et al. 2002; Yow et al. 2009; Kijeńska et al. 2012; Wang et al. 2012). There is a general consensus that nerve regeneration is improved when implants of extracellular matrix are aligned along the tube axis. The orientation facilitates elongation of growth cones, avoiding neuroma formation (Dubey et al. 1999). In tubes filled with aligned implants, the regeneration of fibers can be guided in a contact-oriented fashion (Verdú et al. 2002). The physical and chemical properties of the microenvironment are crucial for axonal regeneration and the interaction between regenerating axons and the adjacent substrate can be a key factor in axonal elongation (Alluin et al. 2009). Oliveira et al.