Construction of a Composite Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface in a Rat Model of Nerve Injury

Take an anesthetized rat with the thigh’s common peroneal nerve transected to model peripheral nerve injury during limb amputation.

Place a muscle graft from a donor rat over the exposed thigh muscle. The graft’s center lacks the outermost muscle covering, exposing muscle fibers for nerve attachment.

Secure the transected nerve end to the exposed fibers and anchor the graft to the underlying muscle.

Suture the nerve to the muscle graft to minimize mechanical strain.

Position the donor rat’s skin graft, which consists of the dermis layer, over the nerve.

Suture the skin graft to the muscle graft.

This composite regenerative peripheral nerve interface, or C-RPNI, supports nerve regeneration.

Close the wound, disinfect the site, apply antibiotics to prevent infection, and allow recovery.

Over time, motor neurons reinnervate the muscle to form neuromuscular junctions, while sensory neurons extend into the skin graft to reestablish sensory structures.

To fabricate the C-RPNI construct, place the muscle graft under the dissecting microscope and remove all of the central tendinous tissue as well as a small central segment of epimysium leaving the tendinous ends intact. Using an 8-0 nylon suture an