Objective  To investigate clinical efficacy of tissue-engineered artificial nerve grafts constructed by acellular nerve grafts combined with adult rat Schwann cell (SC) in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.

  Methods  SCs were isolated and cultured from the distal nerves of adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with 1-week Wallerian degeneration and then combined with acellular nerve grafts to construct tissue-engineered artificial nerve. All rats were divided into acellular nerve graft containing SCs (SC group) and nerve graft containing no cells groups (control group), five animals in each group. At 2-, 4-and 8-week after surgery, sciatic function index (SFI) of the affected side was compared between two groups. At postoperative 8 weeks, nerve conduction of sciatic nerve of the injured side, recovery rate of triceps surae wet weight and other relevant parameters were equally compared between two groups.

  Results  In the SC group, SFI of the affected side at 2-, 4-and 8-week after surgery, nerve conduction of sciatic nerve at the injured side and recovery rate of triceps surae wet weight at postoperative 8 weeks were significantly better compared with those in the control group (all in P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  Combined use of adult rat SCs and acellular nerve grafts effectively repairs peripheral nerve defects and accelerates functional recovery of injured nerves.