FIBRIN GLUE IS A SEALANT AND NOT A NERVE BARRIER

This experimental work on the internal popliteal nerve of the rabbit w as undertaken to clarify whether interposition of a block of 4 mm of f ibrin-sealant would form a barrier which stops or interferes with the passage of the axons. Twenty-four adult rabbit tibial nerves were plac ed in a microclamp, sectioned, and separated 4 mm. The gap between the two nerve ends was filled with fibrin sealant. Eight weeks after the procedure, the animals were sacrificed and the nerves removed. Histolo gic studies and morphometric longitudinal and transverse examination b y image analysis showed that interposition of the block of fibrin seal ant between the nerve ends was not a barrier or obstacle to the passag e of axons. The use of fibrin sealant is a relatively good experimenta l model for a chamber of regeneration, because 70 percent of axonal re generation was obtained.