Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Delay Muscular Atrophy After Peripheral Nerve Injury in Rats

Introduction: Muscle is often accompanied by denervation atrophy after peripheral nerve injury. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) and platelet-rich plasma injections into a muscle after peripheral nerve injury were examined. Methods: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. First group rats’ sciatic nerve was exposed with untreated, others groups rats’ sciatic nerve injury model was created first. PBS, hADSCs, PRP, and a mixture of hADSCs and PRP were injected into the gastrocnemius immediately postoperatively. Quantitation of gross musculature and muscle fiber area, SFI were investigated. Results: In 4 weeks post-surgery, post hoc Bonferroni tests showed significant differences in wet weight ratios when the hADSC group, the PRP group, and the combine group were compared with the PBS group. Areas of muscle fiber were larger in the hADSC group and the combine group compared with the PBS group at 4 weeks post-surgery. Discussion: hADSCs injection may delay muscular atrophy after sciatic nerve injury in rats, and PRP injection has little effect on delayed muscular atrophy.