Current-modulated electrical stimulation as a treatment for peripheral nerve regeneration in diabetic rats

Yu Ching Lin, Chia Hong Kao, Yu Kai Cheng, Jia Jin J. Chen, Chun Hsu Yao, Yueh Sheng Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To study if electrical stimulation (ES) can be a useful tool to improve functional recovery after neuronal injury in the peripheral nervous system. Methods: We studied the effects of 2 Hz of percutaneous ES at different intensities of 1, 10 and 20 mA on peripheral nerve regeneration in rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. Non-stimulated diabetic rats were used as the sham-controls. A10-mm gap was made in the rat sciatic nerve by suturing the stumps into silicone rubber tubes and stimulation was carried out every other day for 3 weeks starting 1 week after surgery. Results: After 4 weeks of recovery, the diabetic rats showed that ES of 1 mA or above could increase the cutaneous blood flow in their ipsilateral hindpaw to the injury. ES of 10 mA could improve the amplitude and the area of evoked muscle action potentials with faster target muscle reinnervation. ES of 10 mA could also ameliorate the calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in lamina I-II regions in the dorsal horn ipsilateral to the injury and the number of macrophages in the diabetic distal sciatic nerve. The impaired growth and maturation of regenerating axons in diabetic rat could be improved by ES of 10 mA or above. Conclusions: All these results lead to the conclusion that ES of 10 mA or above might be necessary to improve regeneration after a dissect lesion of the sciatic nerve in the diabetic rat.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)437-446
Number of pages10
JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neurology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Current-modulated electrical stimulation as a treatment for peripheral nerve regeneration in diabetic rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this