title: The delayed effects of irreversible electroporation ablation on nerves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the delayed effects of irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation on nerves.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. CT-guided IRE-ablation (electric field per distance, 1,500 V/cm; pulse length, 70 μs; number of pulses, 90) of 6 sciatic nerves was performed in 6 pigs that were euthanized 2 months after ablation. The sciatic nerves were harvested immediately after euthanasia for histopathological evaluation. Sections from selected specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome (MT) method for collagen, and immunohistochemistry was performed for S100 and neurofilaments (markers for Schwann cells and axons, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All nerves showed a preserved endoneural architecture and presence of numerous small calibre axons associated with Schwann cell hyperplasia, consistent with axonal regeneration. A fibrous scar was observed in the adjacent muscle tissue, confirming ablation at the site examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After IRE-ablation of nerves, the preservation of the architecture of the endoneurium and the proliferation of Schwann cells may enable axonal regeneration as demonstrated after 2 months in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schoellnast
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ezell
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maybody
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Erinjeri
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Single
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018274:Electroporation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors