[Mechanism of rat sciatic nerve regeneration induced by human hair keratin].

The study explored the mechanism of rat sciatic nerve regeneration induced by human hair keratin (HHK), highlighting its potential as an ideal material for nerve injury repair. It was found that apocytosis was crucial in the transformation of highly differentiated Schwann cells into immature ones after nerve injury. Following injury, axons were protected through enclosure and dissociation, with intact axons forming growth cones that extended fibers to bind Schwann cells. Ultimately, only one axon developed completely. The nerve fiber barrier membrane originated from capillary mesenchymal stem cells and the outermost vascular barrier membrane. The regeneration of Schwann cells, axons, and the nerve membrane was a result of self-organization through a synchronized and coordinated mechanism.