RESEARCH INTERESTS
Neuronal Plasticity
For the last several years we have been studying a model of peripheral nerve tubulation repair that has allowed us the quantitative assessment of functional nerve regeneration.In our studies on PNS regeneration we have consistently observed a diminished regenerative response of peripheral nerve fibers after axotomy and nerve repair. A possible explanation for this finding is that peripheral nerve transection would result in a non-selective death of primary sensory neurons, thus decreasing the potential for sensory axon regeneration. Thus the nerve trauma would in some way alter the microenvironment of the nerve fibers which would be cut off from the normal supply of trophic factors from the periphery. Based on this hypothesis we have tested the effects of exogenously administered neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), gangliosides and basal membrane extracts on the regeneration rate of peripheral axons. The results obtained contribute to an understanding of the basic mechanisms of neuronal survival and axonal elongation in adult animals and should have direct clinical relevance to human peripheral nerve repair.
RELEVANT PAPERS
Martins RS, Siqueira MG, Silva CF, Godoy BO, Plese JP. Electrophysiologic assessment of regeneration in rat sciatic nerve repair using suture, fibrin glue or a combination of both techniques. Arq Neuropsiquiatr., 63(3A):601-4, 2005
Martins, Roberto S.; Siqueira, Mario G.; Da-Silva, C.F.; Plese, José Píndaro Pereira. Overall assessment of regeneration in peripheral nerve lesion repair using fibrin glue, suture, or a combination of the 2 techniques in a rat model. Which is the ideal choice?. In: Surgical Neurology. New York, v. 64, suppl. 1, p. 10-16, 2005.
Lainetti, R.D., Pereira, F.C. and Da-Silva, C.F. Ganglioside GM1 potentiates the stimulatory effect of nerve growth factor on peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo. Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 845: 415-416, 1998.
Lainetti, R.D., Pereira, F.C. and Da-Silva, C.F. Reduced sensory neuron regeneration by C57BL/6J mice. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res., 28: 781-785, 1995.
Lainetti, R.D. and Da-Silva, C.F. Local addition of monosialoganglioside GM1 stimulates peripheral axon regeneration in vivo. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res., 26: 841-845, 1993.
Da-Silva, C.F., Madison, R., Dikkes, P., Chiu, T.-H. and Sidman, R.L. An in vivo model to quantify motor and sensory peripheral nerve regeneration using bioresorbable nerve guides. Brain Res., 342: 307-315, 1985.
