[The changes in blood flow in sciatic nerve after electrical injury in rabbit].
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes in sciatic nerve blood flow and the expression of collagen type I after electric injury of rabbit nerve with different voltages.


METHODS
Thirty-six healty rabbits were randomized into 3 groups before receiving injury with electricity in voltages, i.e. 50 v, 75 v, and 100 v groups. The changes in blood flow of sciatic nerve were observed with Laser Doppler Flowmeter immediately after injury and 1, 4, 8 weeks after injury. The changes in the expression of collagen type I was observed by immunohistochemical method, and the positive expression rate was calculated.


RESULTS
The sciatic nerve blood flow increased in all groups immediately after electric injury. In the 75 v and 100v groups, the nerve blood flow [(53 +/- 3 ), (48 +/- 5) PU] was obviously lower than that of normal value [(62 +/- 4) PU, P < 0.05]. There was little collagen type I deposition in 50 v group, while brown collagenous fibers in epineurium and perineurium were observed in 75 v and 100v groups 4 and 8 weeks after injury. The expression of collagen type I in all groups were obviously higher than that of normal value, and that in 75v and 100 v groups were higher than that in 50 v group at bachl time-point (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The restoration of sciatic nerve blood flow is postponed following by the injury with increase of the electrical voltage. The collagen deposition after electrical injury may be one of the reasons for nerve blood flow decrease.
Wang
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, PR China.
Li
Xue-Yong
XY
Li
Yue-Jun
YJ
Fu
Guo-Qiang
GQ
Li
Wang-Zhou
WZ
Li
Jin-Qing
JQ
Li
Jing
J
Lv
Xiao-Xing
XX
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries*
D024042:Collagen Type I