Improved adductor function after canine recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and repair using muscle progenitor cells.

OBJECTIVE: Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) can be isolated from muscle samples and grown to a critical mass in culture. They have been shown to survive and integrate when implanted into rat laryngeal muscles. In this study, the ability of MPC implants to enhance adductor function of reinnervated thyroarytenoid muscles was tested in a canine model.

STUDY DESIGN: Animal study.

METHODS: Sternocleidomastoid muscle samples were harvested from three canines. Muscle progenitor cells were isolated and cultured to 107 cells over 4 to 5 weeks, then implanted into right thyroarytenoid muscles after ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve transection and repair. The left sides underwent the same nerve injury, but no cells were implanted. Laryngeal adductor force was measured pretreatment and again 6 months later, and the muscles were harvested for histology.

RESULTS: Muscle progenitor cells were successfully cultured from all dogs. Laryngeal adductor force measurements averaged 60% of their baseline pretreatment values in nonimplanted controls, 98% after implantation with MPCs, and 128% after implantation with motor endplate-enhanced MPCs. Histology confirmed that the implanted MPCs survived, became integrated into thyroarytenoid muscle fibers, and were in close contact with nerve endings, suggesting functional innervation.

CONCLUSION: Muscle progenitor cells were shown to significantly enhance adductor function in this pilot canine study. Patient-specific MPC implantation could potentially be used to improve laryngeal function in patients with vocal fold paresis/paralysis, atrophy, and other conditions. Further experiments are planned.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA. Laryngoscope, 2017.