Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in a Silicone Rubber Conduit in Taxol-Treated Rats

Chien-Fu Liao; Shih-Tien Hsu; Chung-Chia Chen; Chun-Hsu Yao; Jia-Horng Lin; Yung-Hsiang Chen; Yueh-Sheng Chen

doi:10.3390/ma13051063

Materials (Feb 2020)

Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in a Silicone Rubber Conduit in Taxol-Treated Rats

Chien-Fu Liao,
Shih-Tien Hsu,
Chung-Chia Chen,
Chun-Hsu Yao,
Jia-Horng Lin,
Yung-Hsiang Chen,
Yueh-Sheng Chen

Affiliations

Chien-Fu Liao: Department of Biological Science and Technology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Shih-Tien Hsu: Lab of Biomaterials, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Chung-Chia Chen: Linsen Chinese Medicine and Kunming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 10341, Taiwan
Chun-Hsu Yao: Department of Biological Science and Technology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Jia-Horng Lin: Department of Fiber and Composite Materials, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
Yung-Hsiang Chen: Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
Yueh-Sheng Chen: Department of Biological Science and Technology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051063
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 5
p. 1063

Abstract

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Taxol, a type of antimitotic agent, could modulate local inflammatory conditions in peripheral nerves, which may impair their regeneration and recovery when injured. This study provided in vivo trials of silicone rubber chambers to bridge a long 10 mm sciatic nerve defect in taxol-treated rats. It was aimed to determine the effects of electrical stimulation at various frequencies on regeneration of the sciatic nerves in the bridging conduits. Taxol-treated rats were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): sham control (no current delivered from the stimulator); and electrical stimulation (3 times/week for 3 weeks at 2, 20, and 200 Hz with 1 mA current intensity). Neuronal electrophysiology, animal behavior, neuronal connectivity, macrophage infiltration, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression levels, and morphological observations were evaluated. At the end of 4 weeks, animals in the low- (2 Hz) and medium-frequency (20 Hz) groups had dramatic higher rates of successful regeneration (90% and 80%) across the wide gap as compared to the groups of sham and high-frequency (200 Hz) (60% and 50%). In addition, the 2 Hz group had significantly larger amplitudes and evoked muscle action potentials compared to the sham and the 200 Hz group, respectively (P < 0.05). Heat, cold plate licking latencies, motor coordination, and neuronal connectivity were unaffected by the electrical stimulation. Macrophage density, CGRP expression level, and axon number were all significantly increased in the 20 Hz group compared to the sham group (P < 0.05). This study suggested that low- (2 Hz) to medium-frequency (20 Hz) electrical stimulation could ameliorate local inflammatory conditions to augment recovery of regenerating nerves by accelerating their regrowth and improving electrophysiological function in taxol-treated peripheral nerve injury repaired with the silicone rubber conduit.

Published in Materials

ISSN: 1996-1944 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering; Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); Science: Natural history (General): Microscopy; Science: Physics: Descriptive and experimental mechanics
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/

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