Effect of transcranial electrotherapy stimulation on reparative regeneration of the damaged sciatic nerve in the experiment

Abstract

The purpose of our research was to study the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation on the regeneration of damaged nerve fibers in laboratory animals. In the experiment, an operation was performed to cut the sciatic nerve at the level of the midthigh and to connect its ends with an epiperineural microsurgical suture. After the operation, one group (experimental) of animals was subjected to electrical exposure using electrodes inserted subcutaneously in the forehead and behind the auricles. The electric current was supplied in the mode of a combination of a direct current of 0.8±0.2 mA and a pulse current of 0.4±0.1 mA with a frequency of 70 Hz, a pulse duration of 3.0-3.5 ms. There were 4 sessions of exposure lasting 1 hour with an interval of three days for two weeks after the operation. The animals were monitored for 9 months. Transcranial electroanalgesia (electrostimulation) was found to activate regenerative morpho-functional processes in the nerve fibers of the damaged sciatic nerve in rats.