Effect of microamperage stimulation on the rate of wound healing in rats: a histological study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined cutaneous wound healing after microamperage stimulation (MS).


METHODS
Twelve female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied.


METHODS
The treatment (wound reduction) group (n = 6) received 100 microA of current at 0.3 Hz on a 50% duty cycle for 2 hours a day for 14 days. The control group (n = 6) received the same handling and electrode placement, but no current was applied. Wound size was measured daily following each treatment. Histological analysis included measurement of epithelial thickness, vascularity, and fibroblast density from tissue sections taken at the end of the experiment.


RESULTS
An analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the change in wound size over the 14 treatment days. A series of t tests showed no significant differences between the groups for any of the histological measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that MS accelerates acute cutaneous wound healing.
Leffmann
D J
DJ
Group Health Co-operative-Central Hospital, Seattle, WA 98112.
Arnall
D A
DA
Holmgren
P R
PR
Cornwall
M W
MW
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*