Magnetic stimulation accelerating rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injury

Abstract

The effect of magnetic stimulation (MS) on sciatic nerve injury was observed. After sciatic nerve was crushed in 40 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, one randomly selected group (group D) was subjected, from the 4th day post-operatively to 3 min of continuous 70% of maximum output of MS daily for 8 weeks. The other group (group E) served as a control group. The nerve regeneration and motor function recovery were evaluated by walking track analysis (sciatic function index, SFI; toe spreading reflex, TSR), electrophysiological, histological and acetylcholineesterase histochemistry. The SFI in the group D was greater than in the group E with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01). TSR reached its peak on the 4th day in the group D and on the 10th day in the group E respectively. The amplitude and velocity of MCAP and NCAP in the group D was greater than in the group E with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01), while the latency and duration of MCAP and NCAP in the group D were less than in the group E with the difference being also statistically significant (P < 0.01). Histological examination showed the mean axon count above the lesion for thick myelinated fibers (> 6.5 microns) in the group D was greater than in the control group with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01), while the mean axon count below the lesion for thick myelinated fibers was less than that in the group E with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01). The mean axon count above the lesion for thin myelinated fibers (2-6.5 microns) in the group D was greater than that in the group E with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05), while the mean axon count below the lesion for thin myelinated in the group D was greater than that in the group E with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01). Acetylcholine esterase examination showed that the MS could significantly increase the number of the motor neurons. There was no significant difference in the number of the motor neurons between the treatment side and the normal side (P > 0.05). It can be concluded that MS can enhance functional recovery and has a considerable effect in the treatment of the peripheral nerve injury.