Effect of low-power pulsed laser on peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-power pulsed laser irradiation could affect the regeneration of a 10-mm gap of rat sciatic nerve created between the proximal and distal nerve stumps, which were sutured into silicone rubber tubes. After 8 weeks of recovery, pulsed laser-irradiated groups at frequencies of 5 kHz and 20 kHz both had significantly lower success percentages of regeneration (50% and 44%, respectively) compared to sham-irradiated controls (100%). In addition, qualitative and quantitative histology of the regenerated nerves revealed a less mature ultrastructural organization with a smaller cross-sectional area and a lower number of myelinated axons in both pulsed laser-irradiated groups than in controls. These results suggest that pulsed laser irradiation could elicit suppressing effects on regenerating nerves.
Chen
Yueh-Sheng
YS
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. yuehsc@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Hsu
Sheng-Feng
SF
Chiu
Chih-Wen
CW
Lin
Jaung-Geng
JG
Chen
Chao-Tzung
CT
Yao
Chun-Hsu
CH
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects