Electrical stimulation improves peripheral nerve regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
We discuss if percutaneous electrical stimulation (ES) at 1 mA and 2 Hz after peripheral nerve transection could enhance axonal regeneration and functional recovery in diabetic animals.


METHODS
Four groups of adult rats (group A: normal rats; group B: normal rats with ES; group C: streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats; and group D: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with ES) were subjected to sciatic nerve section followed by repair using silicone rubber conduits across a 10-mm gap. Rats in groups B and D received ES for 15 minutes every other day for three weeks. The groups A and C received no ES.


RESULTS
At four weeks after surgery in groups B and D, immunohistochemical staining showed that lamina I and II regions in the dorsal horn ipsilateral to the injury were significantly calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunolabeled, and a significantly higher number of macrophages were recruited in the distal sciatic nerve compared with group C. In groups A, B, and D, electrophysiological results showed higher levels of reinnervation with significantly shorter latencies and faster nerve conductive velocities, and the histologic evaluations showed relatively larger mean values of myelinated axon densities and endoneurial areas compared with group C.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, the ES may improve the recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury in diabetic animals, which could be considered as a supplementary treatment in diabetic neurotrauma.
Lab of Biomaterials, School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chun-Hsu
CH
Yao
Ruey-Lin
RL
Chang
Shih-Liang
SL
Chang
Chin-Chuan
CC
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
Yueh-Sheng
YS
Chen
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar