title: Low-level laser irradiation improves functional recovery and nerve regeneration in sciatic nerve crush rat injury model.
abstract: The development of noninvasive approaches to facilitate the regeneration of post-traumatic nerve injury is important for clinical rehabilitation. In this study, we investigated the effective dose of noninvasive 808-nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on sciatic nerve crush rat injury model. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 experimental groups: a normal group with or without 808-nm LLLT at 8 J/cm(2) and a sciatic nerve crush injury group with or without 808-nm LLLT at 3, 8 or 15 J/cm(2). Rats were given consecutive transcutaneous LLLT at the crush site and sacrificed 20 days after the crush injury. Functional assessments of nerve regeneration were analyzed using the sciatic functional index (SFI) and hindlimb range of motion (ROM). Nerve regeneration was investigated by measuring the myelin sheath thickness of the sciatic nerve using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by analyzing the expression of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) in sciatic nerve using western blot and immunofluorescence staining. We found that sciatic-injured rats that were irradiated with LLLT at both 3 and 8 J/cm(2) had significantly improved SFI but that a significant improvement of ROM was only found in rats with LLLT at 8 J/cm(2). Furthermore, the myelin sheath thickness and GAP43 expression levels were significantly enhanced in sciatic nerve-crushed rats receiving 808-nm LLLT at 3 and 8 J/cm(2). Taken together, these results suggest that 808-nm LLLT at a low energy density (3 J/cm(2) and 8 J/cm(2)) is capable of enhancing sciatic nerve regeneration following a crush injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Orthopaedic Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chau-Zen
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yan-Hsiung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mao-Hsiung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Orthopaedic Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein