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Experimental Rat Peripheral Nerve Models: Surgical Exposures and Applications.

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Τίτλος: Experimental Rat Peripheral Nerve Models: Surgical Exposures and Applications.
Συγγραφείς: Gutama B; Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN., King D, Zhang F, Lineaweaver W, Karagoz H
Πηγή: Annals of plastic surgery [Ann Plast Surg] 2026 Sep 01; Vol. 97 (3S), pp. S331-S337. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 29.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article; Review
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: Little, Brown And Company Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7805336 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1536-3708 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01487043 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ann Plast Surg Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: Boston Ma : Little, Brown And Company
Original Publication: Boston, Little, Brown.
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): Nerve Regeneration*/physiology , Peripheral Nerves*/surgery , Peripheral Nerves*/physiology , Peripheral Nerve Injuries*/surgery , Neurosurgical Procedures*/methods , Models, Animal*, Dissection/methods ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal
Περίληψη: Background: A significant knowledge gap persists in understanding the mechanisms driving peripheral nerve regeneration and improving postoperative recovery. Rat models serve as essential tools for investigating peripheral nerve injury or repair due to their affordability, resilience, and functional similarity to humans. This study provides a comprehensive overview of surgical dissection details and the application of rat peripheral nerve models.
Materials and Methods: Under approval from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, dissections of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerves were performed in 2 Sprague-Dawley rats. Standardized techniques were documented for median, ulnar, radial, musculocutaneous, intercostal, femoral, obturator, sciatic, tibial, common peroneal, sural, and pudendal nerves.
Results: All peripheral nerves were successfully identified and exposed. Functional correlations and applications were summarized for each model, including regeneration, neuropathic pain, motor recovery, and nerve grafting. The sciatic nerve remains the most established model, while the median and ulnar nerves offer reliable forelimb motor assessments with a lower risk of self-mutilation.
Conclusions: This comprehensive review defines dissection techniques, applications, and comparative advantages of rat peripheral nerve models. These standardized methods aim to guide model selection and strengthen translational research in peripheral nerve regeneration and repair.
(Copyright © 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, LLC. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: nerve models; peripheral nerve injuries; rat peripheral nerve model
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260629 Date Completed: 20260811 Latest Revision: 20260829
Update Code: 20260829
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000004810
PMID: 42372203
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
Περιγραφή
ISSN:1536-3708
DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000004810