Animal models in peripheral nerve transection studies: a systematic review on study design and outcomes assessment
Bruna Lopes, André Coelho, Rui Alvites, Ana Catarina Sousa, Patrícia Sousa, Alícia Moreira, Luís Atayde, António J. Salgado, Stefano Geuna, Ana Colette Maurício
Abstract
Aim: Peripheral nerve injury regeneration studies using animal models are crucial to different pre-clinical therapeutic approaches efficacy evaluation whatever the surgical technique explored. Materials & methods: A 944 articles systematic review on ‘peripheral nerve injury in animal models’ over the last 9 years was carried out. Results: It was found that 91% used rodents, and only 9% employed large animals. Different nerves are studied, with generated gaps (10,78 mm) and methods applied for regeneration evaluation uniformed. Sciatic nerve was the most used (88%), followed by median and facial nerves (2.6%), significantly different. Conclusion: There has not been a significant scale-up of the in vivo testing to large animal models (anatomically/physiologically closer to humans), allowing an improvement in translational medicine for clinical cases.