ABSTRACT
The authors have previously reported the permanent storage of skin and cutaneous flaps
using cryopreservation. In this study, replantation of the hind limb was performed
in rats, using an allogeneic femoral artery, vein, and sciatic nerve which had been
cryopreserved for more than 3 weeks. Femoral arteries, veins of 2 cm in length, and
sciatic nerves of 1.5 cm in length from Lewis rats were cryopreserved for more than
3 weeks to decrease antigenicity. The hind limb of a Brown Norway rat was completely
amputated at its mid-length and the cryopreserved artery, vein, and nerve were interposed
in the anastomosis of the femoral artery, vein, and sciatic nerve. Immunosuppressants
were not used. Hind limbs were replanted in six rats, and all cases survived. Toe
spread and gait-foot analysis revealed good results at 3 months post-operatively.
Excellent axonal regeneration was observed in the pathologic examination of the sciatic
nerve 1 cm distal to the transfer. This report introduces a long-term storage method
for vessels and nerves and extends the possibilities for clinical use of cryopreserved
vessels and nerves, using replantation in a rat model.
