Premium
Neural regeneration in a novel nerve conduit across a large gap of the transected sciatic nerve in rats with low‐level laser phototherapy
Author(s) -
Shen ChiungChyi,
Yang YiChin,
Huang TsungBin,
Chan ShiuhChuan,
Liu BaiShuan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.34581
Subject(s) - sciatic nerve , medicine , regeneration (biology) , electrophysiology , stimulation , implant , anesthesia , surgery , materials science , biomedical engineering , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
This study proposes a biodegradable nerve conduit comprising 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross‐linked gelatin annexed with β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) ceramic particles (EDC‐gelatin‐TCP, EGT). For this study, the EGT‐implant site in rats was irradiated using 660‐nm GaAlAsP laser diodes (50 mW) for trigger point therapy to investigate the use of low‐level laser (LLL) stimulation in the regeneration of a 15‐mm transected sciatic nerve. Animals were divided into three groups: a control group undergoing autologous nerve graft (autograft); a sham‐irradiated group (EGT), and an experimental group undergoing laser stimulation (EGT/LS). Two trigger points on the surgical incision along the sciatic nerve were irradiated transcutaneously for 2 min daily for 10 consecutive days. Twelve weeks after implantation, walking track analysis showed a significantly higher sciatic functional index (SFI; p < 0.05) and improved toe spreading development in the autograft and EGT/LS groups, compared to the EGT group. In the electrophysiological measurement, the mean recovery index (peak amplitude and area) of the compound muscle action potential curves in the autograft and EGT/LS groups showed significantly improved functional recovery than in the EGT group ( p < 0.05). Compared with the EGT group, the autograft and EGT/LS groups showed a reduction in muscular atrophy. Histomorphometric assessments showed that the EGT/LS group had undergone more rapid nerve regeneration than the EGT group. Therefore, motor function, electrophysiological reaction, muscular reinnervation, and histomorphometric assessments demonstrate that LLL therapy can accelerate the repair of a 15‐mm transected peripheral nerve in rats after being bridged with the EGT nerve conduit. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A:2763–2777, 2013.