Low-level laser irradiation improves functional recovery and nerve regeneration in sciatic nerve crush rat injury model

The development of noninvasive approaches to facilitate the regeneration of post-traumatic nerve injury is important for clinical rehabilitation. In this study, we investigated the effective dose of noninvasive 808-nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on sciatic nerve crush rat injury model. Thirty-six...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PloS one 2014-08, Vol.9 (8), p.e103348
Main Authors:	Wang, Chau-Zen, Chen, Yi-Jen, Wang, Yan-Hsiung, Yeh, Ming-Long, Huang, Mao-Hsiung, Ho, Mei-Ling, Liang, Jen-I, Chen, Chia-Hsin
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Animals Arthritis Biology and Life Sciences Biomedical engineering Crush tests Electron microscopy Flux density GAP-43 Protein - metabolism Hindlimb - physiopathology Hospitals Immunofluorescence Infrared Rays - therapeutic use Injuries Injury analysis Irradiation Laser surgery Lasers Lasers in medicine Lasers in surgery Levels Low-Level Light Therapy Male Medical lasers Medicine Medicine and Health Sciences Microscopy Microscopy, Electron, Transmission Microsurgery Morphology Myelin Myelin Sheath - radiation effects Myelin Sheath - ultrastructure Nerve Crush Nerve Regeneration Physical Sciences Physiology Polypeptides Range of Motion, Articular Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Recovery of Function Regeneration Rehabilitation Rodents Sciatic nerve Sciatic Nerve - injuries Sciatic Nerve - physiology Sciatic Nerve - radiation effects Sciatic Neuropathy - physiopathology Sciatic Neuropathy - radiotherapy Transmission electron microscopy
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The development of noninvasive approaches to facilitate the regeneration of post-traumatic nerve injury is important for clinical rehabilitation. In this study, we investigated the effective dose of noninvasive 808-nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on sciatic nerve crush rat injury model. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 experimental groups: a normal group with or without 808-nm LLLT at 8 J/cm(2) and a sciatic nerve crush injury group with or without 808-nm LLLT at 3, 8 or 15 J/cm(2). Rats were given consecutive transcutaneous LLLT at the crush site and sacrificed 20 days after the crush injury. Functional assessments of nerve regeneration were analyzed using the sciatic functional index (SFI) and hindlimb range of motion (ROM). Nerve regeneration was investigated by measuring the myelin sheath thickness of the sciatic nerve using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by analyzing the expression of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) in sciatic nerve using western blot and immunofluorescence staining. We found that sciatic-injured rats that were irradiated with LLLT at both 3 and 8 J/cm(2) had significantly improved SFI but that a significant improvement of ROM was only found in rats with LLLT at 8 J/cm(2). Furthermore, the myelin sheath thickness and GAP43 expression levels were significantly enhanced in sciatic nerve-crushed rats receiving 808-nm LLLT at 3 and 8 J/cm(2). Taken together, these results suggest that 808-nm LLLT at a low energy density (3 J/cm(2) and 8 J/cm(2)) is capable of enhancing sciatic nerve regeneration following a crush injury.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203