title: Atorvastatin is beneficial for muscle reinnervation after complete sciatic nerve section in rats.
abstract: Nerve regeneration and functional recovery are often incomplete after peripheral neurotmetic lesion. Atorvastatin has been shown to be neuroprotective after transient ischaemia or traumatic injury. The aim of this study was to establish if systemic administration of Atorvastatin could improve functional muscle reinnervation after complete sciatic nerve section. Sixteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. After a complete right sciatic nerve section, end-to-end microsuture repair was performed and fibrin glue was added. Three groups were studied: (1) sutures (S) + fibrin glue (F) only + saline administration for 14 days; (2) S+F+Atorvastatin administration for 14 days; and (3) uninjured nerve. Five months later, the sciatic nerve and the gastrocnemius muscle were isolated to perform in vivo electrophysiological measurements. Better kinematics was observed in atorvastatin-treated rats 5 months after its administration. Indeed, a larger excursion of the hip-ankle-toe angle during walking was observed. This effect was associated with the preservation of electromyographic activity (2.91 mV vs 0.77 mV) and maximal muscle force (85.1 g vs 28.6 g) on stimulation of the proximal nerve section. Five months after a neurotmetic lesion, the recovery is incomplete when using suture and fibrin glue only. Furthermore, the systemic administration of Atorvastatin for 14 days after lesion was beneficial in improving locomotion capability associated with the re-establishment of muscle strength and EMG activity.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal and Département de Chirurgie, Université de Montréal , Montréal, Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Frédéric-Charles
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Cloutier
authors.forename: Dominique M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rouleau
authors.forename: Jonah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hébert-Davies
authors.forename: Pierre H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Beaumont
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beaumont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion; D008866:Microsurgery; D023421:Models, Animal; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013537:Sutures; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D000069059:Atorvastatin