title: Effects of Treatment of Treadmill Combined with Electro-Acupuncture on Tibia Bone Mass and Substance PExpression of Rabbits with Sciatic Nerve Injury.
abstract: The peripheral nervous system may play an important role in normal bone maintenance and remodeling. Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide associated with bone loss and formation that may mediate the effects of the nervous system. The purpose of this study is to determine if treadmill running combined with electro-acupuncture at Jiaji acupoints (Jiaji-EA) affects tibial bone mass and SP expression in rabbits with sciatic nerve injury. Twenty-four juvenile male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: sham injury control (sham), sciatic never crush control (SNCr), treadmill running (treadmill), and Jiaji-EA combined with treadmill running (ET group). The SNCr, treadmill, and ET groups all had an induced sciatic never crush injury of approximately 2mm. Control groups received no intervention; the treadmill and ET groups were trained by treadmill; the ET group also received Jiaji-EA. After the 4 weeks of treatment, toe-spreading index (TSI), BMD, bone strength, and SP expression in the tibia were significantly lower in the nerve injury groups (SNCr, treadmill, and ET) compared to the sham groups (p<0.05). Treatment (treadmill and ET groups) increased all measures compared to the SNCr group (p<0.05). Further, TSI, BMD, bone strength, and SP expression in the ET group were higher than the treadmill group (p<0.05). Our results indicate that treadmill therapy combined with electro-acupuncture at Jiaji acupoints prevents bone loss in rabbit tibias after sciatic nerve injury. This may occur in two ways: indirectly in association with axon regeneration and directly via loading on the bone mediated through increased SP expression. This study provides important evidence for the clinical treatment of bone loss after peripheral nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: The 2nd affiliated hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.|Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8003-8898
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The 2nd affiliated hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.|Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The 2nd affiliated hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.|Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Luwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Ruyi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: HRPO, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koleini
authors.affiliation: Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dequan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D013977:Tibia / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P