Experimental Study of Qualitative Staining of Peripheral Nerve with the Elisa Technique

Abstract

A new technique of qualitative staining of peripheral nerve fibres was developed using the technique of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In 15 Wistar rats and five Harbin rabbits, the antibody IgGs labelled with rabbit-anti-rat enzyme was prepared. This was used to stain the sural nerves of the rats. In six sheep and human sural, radial and posterior interosseous nerves taken from fresh cadavers, the antibody IgGs labelled with sheep-anti-human enzyme was made. Nerve slices were sectioned from the nerve trunks and reacted with the enzyme-labelled antibody IgGs serum. The rat sural nerve and human sural, radial and posterior interosseous nerves showed good contrast of staining 25 minutes later. The sensory nerve fascicles were stained blue or brown blue, but the motor fascicles were negative. The period of staining was tested at 25 minutes, 55 minutes, and 115 minutes, and no obvious difference was observed in the colour of staining in these three groups. This technique was used in six nerves (two radial, two median, one ulnar and one tibial) in clinical cases. Differentiation of the sensory and motor nerve fascicles was possible. Contrast of colour in nerves at secondary nerve repair was less obvious than that in primary repair.