The Effects of Electroacupuncture on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rats

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture with direct current (DC) on peripheral nerve regeneration. The left sciatic nerve of 55 7-month-old rats was crushed at the thigh. They were ramdomly allocated to four groups: distal cathode DC group (n=15), distal anode DC group (n=14), sham operated group (n=13), and control group (n=13). In the distal cathode DC group, a cathode electrode was connected to an insulated acupuncture needle inserted at 1 cm distal to the injured site, while an anode electrode was connected to a needle inserted at 1 cm proximal to the lesion. In the distal anode DC group, the anode and the cathode electrode were connected to the needle at 1cm distal and proximal to the lesion respectively. In the sham operated group, no electrical stimulation was given to the insulated needle inserted at the same site, and in the control group, no treatment was given. Regeneration of the sciatic nerve was evaluated by the number of evoked EMGs recorded at 12 sites in the plantar region, by their latency, and by the weight ratio of the tibialis anterior at four weeks after the crush injury. Regeneration of the peripheral nerve was faster and more accelerated in the distal cathode DC group than in the other groups, while in the distal anode DC group the regeneration was delayed. This result suggested electroacupuncture with cathode distal orientation might be a useful treatment having the advantage of enabling deeper insertion with minimal tissue damage.

Electro-acupuncture on functional peripheral nerve regeneration in mice: a behavioural study

“…Electro-acupuncture represents another method with minimal tissue damage and known to produce anti-hyperalgesia in animal models of inflammatory pain. Electro-acupuncture was also shown to improve motor recovery by assessing muscle electrical activity elicited under peripheral nerve stimulation [10]. However, no studies have explored its effects on peripheral nerve regeneration by measuring both motor and sensory recovery.…”

Use of Electrical Stimulation at Different Current Levels to Promote Recovery After Peripheral Nerve Injury in Rats

“…4 Several investigators have reported that a low-frequency electrical stimulation is a promise approach to accelerate nerve regeneration after injury. 5,6 However, a high frequency of electrical stimulation may increase failure of nerve regeneration. 7 Therefore, we conclude that the electrical stimulation can have a positive and negative impact on peripheral nerve regeneration simultaneously.…”

The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Tendon Repair in a Rat Achilles Tendon Rupture Model

“…13 14 In the present study we applied EA stimulation to the ruptured tendon with the expectation that the stimulation would have similar effects to those seen in our previous studies. [4][5][6][7] For the electrical stimulation, two acupuncture needles, acting as electrodes delivering a direct electric current, were in contact with the injured part of the tendon. However, because of the extremely small distance between the two electrodes, it is not clear whether the promotion Figure 3 Maximum breaking strength (as measured by tension testing) and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon of rats (n=10 per group) 10 days following tendon rupture.…”