Objective    To study the effects of poly(lactideco-glycolide) (PLGA) tube on the repair of sciatic nerve defect in rats.     Methods    Totally 12 adult SD rats were inflicted with a 10 mm defect in their right sciatic nerve

and then randomly received PLGA tube bridging (PLGA tube group) or autogenous nerve grafting (autotransplantation group). The PLGA tube was compounded of 75% polylactic acid and 25% polyglycolic acid. The sciatic nerve function index (SFI) was observed in 4

8 and 12 weeks after transplantation. In 12 weeks after transplantation

Fast Blue retrograde tracing was performed to assess the neurons in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia

semi-thin and ultrathin sections were made to observe the number

diameter and myelin thickness of the regenerated axons

and the wet weight of tibialis anterior muscle was measured.     Results    The number of Fast Blue-labeled cells in the spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglia and the wet weight of tibial muscle were significantly less in PLGA group than in autotransplatation group (P0.05). So the number

diameter and myelin thickness of the regenerated axons were (P0.05).     Conclusion    The PLGA tube bridging can repair nerve defect to some extent

but the effect is still inferior to that of autogenous nerve grafting.