Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
2
1) Study Program of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Indonesia, 2) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
3
1) Department Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, 2) Biomedical Engineering Program, Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sinduadi, Mlati, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
4
1) Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, 2) Biomedical Engineering Program, Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sinduadi, Mlati, Sleman,
10.22059/ijvm.2025.400613.1005877
Abstract
Background: The widespread use of swine-derived biomaterials presents significant challenges in healthcare, particularly in regions with religious and cultural restrictions on the use of porcine products. This limitation necessitates the development of alternative xenograft sources for tissue engineering applications, such as those used in peripheral nerve repair. For tissue implants to be effective, they must closely mimic the biomechanical and structural characteristics of native tissue. While acellular xenografts from sheep are promising alternatives to swine-derived tissues, their application in peripheral nerve regeneration is limited by a lack of comprehensive characterization.
Objectives: This study aimed to comprehensively characterize fresh and decellularized peripheral nerve tissues from both sheep and swine.
Methods: Fourteen sciatic nerves from each species were divided into two groups: fresh and decellularized. Decellularization protocols, optimized for each species, involved a freeze-thaw cycle followed by immersion in 0.1% SDS-EDTA (14 days for sheep, 25 days for swine). Characterization included macroscopic evaluation, microstructural analysis, and mechanical testing.
Results: Results indicated that decellularized sheep nerves had a significantly smaller diameter, fewer residual cellular components, and higher ultimate tensile stress (p<0.05) than decellularized swine nerves. Microstructural analysis revealed that endoneurial pore diameters ranged primarily from 3 to 12 µm, with a notable proportion exceeding 12 µm, suggesting the potential to integrate growth factors and cells to treat human peripheral nerve injuries.
Conclusion: The superior decellularization efficiency, reduced residual cellular components, and enhanced mechanical properties observed in sheep nerves indicate their significant promise as a viable and effective substitute for swine-derived decellularized peripheral nerve grafts.
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