title: Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve bridged by chitosan conduit: an animal model study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effect of whole body exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male white Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: In transected group (TC) left sciatic nerve was transected and stumps were fixed in adjacent muscle. In chitosan group (CHIT) the defect was bridged using a chitosan conduit filled with phosphate-buffered saline. In treatment group (CHIT/PEMF) the whole body was exposed to PEMF (0.3 mT, 2 Hz) for 4 h/day within 1-5 days. In normal control group (NC) sciatic nerve was only dissected and manipulated. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and nerve fibers were studied 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Behavioral, functional, electrophysiological, biomechanical, gastrocnemius muscle mass findings and morphometric indices confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in CHIT/PEMF than in CHIT group (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical reactions to S-100 in CHIT/PEMF were more positive than that in CHIT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole body exposure to PEMF improved functional recovery and morphometric indices of sciatic nerve. Detailed mechanism of neuroprotective action remains to be investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEMF combine with chitosan grafting could be considered as an effective, safe and tolerable treatment for peripheral nerve repair in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Electronic address: r.mohammadi@urmia.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Darab
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faraji
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hanieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mokarizadeh
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan conduit; PEMF; Peripheral nerve repair; Rat; Transection injury