title: Wallerian degeneration and recovery of motor nerves after multiple focused cold therapies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A device has been developed to apply freezing temperatures to temporarily impede nerve conduction, resulting in inhibition of voluntary skeletal muscle contraction. This device was designed as an alternative to the neurotoxins usually used to treat movement disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the effects of single and 3 repeat treatments with a cryoprobe device (-55°C) on a sciatic nerve rat model. Long-term effects of repeated treatment were evaluated through assessments of physiological function and histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was consistent weakening of physiological function after each treatment, with recovery of normal function by 8 weeks posttreatment. Histological findings showed axonal degeneration with no disruption to the epineurial or perineurial structures. Progressive axonal regeneration was followed by normal recovery by 24 weeks post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-temperature treatment of motor nerves did not result in permanent or long-term changes to nerve function or structure.
authors.affiliation: Myoscience, Inc., Redwood City, California, 94063, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fang F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins
keywords: cryoprobe; cryotherapy; denervation; movement disorder; peripheral nerve; reinnervation