Vitamin B complex treatment improves motor nerve regeneration and recovery of muscle function in a rodent model of peripheral nerve injury

Abstract

It is well known that the peripheral nervous system has a good potential for regeneration. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of vitamin B therapy (with a complex of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12) on motor nerve recovery after femoral nerve injury. Our study was conducted on an experimental animal model of femoral nerve injury in rats. All animals used in the experiment were subjected to the same set of analyses. A behavior test was used for the assessment of motor function recovery. Body weight was measured and electromyography was performed in order to assess recovery of quadriceps muscle. Samples of muscles and nerves were used for counting nuclei and determining nuclear density. The results of this study showed enhanced functional recovery, including improved walking, a decreased level of muscle atrophy and better electromyography recovery after administration of vitamin B complex. Further, after 14 days of treatment with the vitamin B complex nuclear nerve and muscle density was significantly lowered. In conclusion, using a model of femoral nerve injury we demonstrated that the application of vitamin B complex improved recovery of motor nerve in rats. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175033]

Keywords

• vitamin B complex
• peripheral nerve injury
• functional recovery
• nuclear density