title: Effect of High- and Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Angiogenesis and Myofibroblast Proliferation in Acute Excisional Wounds in Rat Skin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effects of high- (HF) and low-frequency (LF) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on angiogenesis and myofibroblast proliferation in acute excisional wounds in rat skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an experimental controlled and randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An excisional wound was made on the back of 90 adult male EPM1-Wistar rats using an 8-mm punch.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were randomly assigned to the HF group (80 Hz), LF group (5 Hz), or control group. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (pulse duration, 200 microseconds; current amplitude, 15 mA) was delivered (session length, 60 minutes) on 3 consecutive days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was performed on postoperative days 3, 7, and 14 for counting blood vessels and myofibroblasts.
  The LF group had significantly more blood vessels than the HF group on day 3 (P = .004). The HF group had significantly less blood vessels than did the control group on days 7 (P = .002) and 14 (P = .034) and less myofibroblasts than did both the LF and control groups on day 3 (P = .004) and less than did the control group on day 7 (P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There seems to be a benefit to the use of LF transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the healing of acute excisional wounds, but further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Aline F. P. Machado, PT, MS, is a Physical Therapist and Student; Richard E. Liebano, PhD, PT, is a Physical Therapist and Professor; Fabianne Furtado, PhD, PT, is a Physical Therapist and Professor; Bernardo Hochman, MD, PhD, was a Physical Therapist and Professor (in memoriam); and Lydia M. Ferreira, MD, PhD, is a Physician and Professor, all in the Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline F P
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Liebano
authors.forename: Fabianne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hochman
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*