title: Homeopathic treatment for peripheral nerve regeneration: an experimental study in a rat sciatic nerve transection model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Effects of homeopathic treatment with Hypericum perforatum (Hypericum) on peripheral nerve regeneration was studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four male healthy White Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 18), randomly: Sham-operation (Sham), control: silicon tube (Sil) and treatment: silicon tube + Hypericum (Sil/Hypericum). In the Sham group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In the Sil group the left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube. In the Sil/Hypericum group a silicone tube was implanted the same way and each animal received three oral drops of Hypericum 30c twice daily for 1 week. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of six animals each studied 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analyzed statistically by factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and, the Bonferroni test for pair-wise comparisons. Functional study showed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in Sil/Hypericum than in Sil group (P < 0.05). Gastrocnemius muscle mass in Sil/Hypericum was significantly greater than in Sil group. Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in Sil/Hypericum were significantly higher than in control group. Immunohistochemistry, showed the location of reactions to S-100 in Sil/Hypericum was clearly more positive than in Sil group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypericum improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Nazloo Road, Urmia 571531177, Iran. r.mohammadi@urmia.ac.ir
authors: Rahim
authors: R
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Keyvan
authors: K
authors: Amini
authors: Sahar
authors: S
authors: Charehsaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006705:Homeopathy; D020902:Hypericum; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins