Timing of applying electrical stimulation is an important factor deciding the success rate and maturity of regenerating rat sciatic nerves.
BACKGROUND
The timing of electrical stimulation (ES) after peripheral nerve transection may enhance axonal regeneration and functional recovery.


OBJECTIVE
The authors examined whether percutaneous ES at 1 mA and 2 Hz affects regeneration between the proximal and distal nerve stumps.


METHODS
Four groups of adult rats were subjected to sciatic nerve section followed by repair using silicone rubber conduits across a 10-mm gap. All groups received ES for 15 minutes every other day for 2 weeks. Stimulation was initiated on day 1 following the nerve repair for group A, day 8 for group B, and day 15 for group C. The control group D received no ES.


RESULTS
At 6 weeks after surgery in groups B and C, histological evaluations showed a significantly higher number of regenerated myelinated fibers in the sciatic nerve, and the electrophysiological results showed higher levels of reinnervation with relatively larger mean values of amplitudes, durations, and areas of compound muscle action potentials compared with A and D.


CONCLUSIONS
A short delay in the onset of ES may improve the recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury, which should be considered as a way of augmenting rehabilitative approaches.
Yeh
Chia-Chou
CC
Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Lin
Yu-Ching
YC
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
Yao
Chun-Hsu
CH
Chen
Yueh-Sheng
YS
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome