Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effects of different doses and methods of extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) on the sciatic nerve regeneration of rat model using unbiased quantitative stereological techniques and to know which method and dose were effective. Methods: Twenty-five Wistar albino rats were used in the experiment. All animals were randomly divided into 5 groups. To the first group (control, n = 5) ESWT and surgery were not applied. To 2nd group (E300∗2, n = 5), twice doses of 300 impulses uESWs (unfocused) were applied. To 3rd group (E500∗2, n = 5), twice doses of 500 impulses uESWs (unfocused) were applied. To 4th group (E300∗2, n = 5), twice doses of 300 impulses of fESWs (focused) were applied. To 5th group (E500∗2, n = 5), twice doses of 500 impulses of fESWs (focused) were applied. Rats were sacrificed and nerve samples analyzed on the 22nd day following the operation. Results: There is a variable increase in the axon numbers among the shockwave treated groups in compare to the control group. The focused groups showed better improvement and the 300-focused group has shown the highest regeneration rate. Conclusion: The authors found that ESWT promotes nerve regeneration, increases the thickness of the myelin sheath and that the most effective result is in the 300 shock wave.

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In this study, the effects of a potent antioxidant, selenium, on apoptosis induced by acrolein, a cytotoxic and genotoxic environmental pollutant, were investigated by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic methods. One hundred adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into four main groups: control, acrolein, selenium, and acrolein + selenium. The animals in the experimental groups were given 1 mg/kg/day selenium and 4 mg/kg/day acrolein daily for 7 days by gavage. After drug administration, each group was divided into subgroups according to the time they were to be euthanized: 12th hour, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th day. The rats in each group at the determined time were euthanized and their livers were removed. Routine histological procedures were performed for light and electron microscopy examinations. After applying the Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay on the liver sections, apoptotic index values were calculated. Comparing the liver sections of the rats in the acrolein group and the control group, acrolein was found to cause a significant increase in the apoptotic index. The apoptotic index values of the acrolein + selenium group decreased compared to the acrolein group. In the electron microscopic examinations, apoptotic findings were observed in the liver tissues of the rats given acrolein, such as chromatin condensation in the nucleus of hepatocytes, dilatations in the perinuclear space, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. These apoptotic findings were not observed in the acrolein + selenium group after the 12th hour. These findings show that selenium may potentially be useful as a protective agent for people exposed to acrolein.

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