title: Electrical stimulation enhanced remyelination of injured sciatic nerves by increasing neurotrophins.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation (ES) enhances axonal regeneration following central and peripheral nerve injury. However, the effect of ES on peripheral remyelination after nerve damage has been investigated less, and the mechanism underlying its action remains unclear. In the present study, neuron/Schwann cell (SC) co-cultures in vitro and crush-injured sciatic nerves in rats were subjected to 1 h of continuous ES (20 Hz, 100 micros, 3 V). Electron microscopy and nerve morphometry were performed to investigate the extent of regenerated nerve myelination. The expression profiles of P0, Par-3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in vitro and in vivo were examined by western blotting. We reported that 20 Hz ES increased the number of regenerated and myelinated axons at 4 and 8 weeks after injury. P0 level in the ES-treated groups, as well as myelin sheath thickness, were enhanced compared with the controls. The earlier peak Par-3 in the ES-treated groups indicated earlier initiation of SC myelination. Moreover, the similar results were achieved in the cell co-culture. Additionally, brief ES significantly elevated BDNF expression in co-cultured cells and nerve tissues. In conclusion, ES of the site of nerve injury potentiates axonal regrowth and myelin maturation during peripheral nerve regeneration. Further, the therapeutic actions of ES on myelination that is mediated via enhanced BDNF signals, which driving the promyelination effect on SCs at the onset of myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D018993:Myelin P0 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018993:Myelin P0 Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C472451:Pard3 protein, rat