Effects of percutaneous electrical stimulation on peripheral nerve regeneration using silicone rubber chambers
Yueh-Sheng Chen
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorCheng-Li Hu
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorChing-Liang Hsieh
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorJaung-Geng Lin
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorChin-Chuan Tsai
School of Post Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorTer-Hsin Chen
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chun-Hsu Yao
Department of Radiological Technology, Chung-Tai Institute of Health Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Department of Radiological Technology, Chung-Tai Institute of Health Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.Search for more papers by this authorYueh-Sheng Chen
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorCheng-Li Hu
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorChing-Liang Hsieh
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorJaung-Geng Lin
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorChin-Chuan Tsai
School of Post Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorTer-Hsin Chen
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chun-Hsu Yao
Department of Radiological Technology, Chung-Tai Institute of Health Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Department of Radiological Technology, Chung-Tai Institute of Health Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether 0.8–1 mA, 2 Hz of percutaneous electrical stimulation could affect the regeneration of a 10-mm gap of rat sciatic nerve created between the proximal and distal nerve stumps, which were sutured into silicone rubber tubes. Six weeks after implantation, though the group receiving the electrical stimulation had a lower success percentage of regeneration (57%) compared with the controls receiving no stimulation (70%), quantitative histology of the successfully regenerated nerves revealed that the mean values of the axon density, blood vessel number, blood vessel area, and percentage of blood vessel area in total nerve area in the group with the electrical stimulation were all significantly larger than those in the controls (p < 0.05). These results showed that the electrical stimulation could elicit rehabilitating effects on the regenerated nerves. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 57: 541–549, 2001
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