A comparative study of the effects of magnetic stimulation and electric stimulation on peripheral nerve injury in rat

Abstract

The influence of pulsed magnetic stimulation (MS) on the sciatic nerve injury was investigated. Thirty rats were divided into three groups equally: MS group (A), electric stimulation (ES) group (B) and the control group (C). The MS and ES were applied immediately after the first 10 min of the sciatic nerve crush. Sciatic function index (SFI). toe spreading reflex (TSR), muscular weight and volume were measured after the experiment. The TSR of in the groups A and B occurred at 4th day while in the control group it occurs at 10th day. There was statistically significant difference in SFI between groups A and B (P< 0.01). The weight and volume of the gastrocnemius muscle were statistically greater in the groups A and B than in the control group (P< 0.01). The effect of MS was similar to that of ES. It was suggested that the application of MS immediately after the nerve injury might have an important clinical value as it can accelerate functional recovery and prevent or minimize muscle atrophy. The technique is easily to operate, non-invasion, painless and permits tolerance of high intensity output to be used.

Keywords

magnetic stimulation / electric stimulation / sciatic nerve injury

References

[1] ReidJ. On the relation between muscular contractility and the nervous system. Lond Edinb Month J Med Sci, 1841, 1: 320-320

[2] SchimrigkK, MclaughlinJ, GruningerW. The effect of electrical stimulation on the experimentally denervated rat muscle. Scand J Rehab Med, 1977, 9: 55-55

[3] Bickford R G, Freeming B D. Neuronal stimulation by pulsed magnetic Fields in animals and man. Dig 6th Int Conf Med Electro Biol Eng, 1965, 112

[4] BarkerA T, JalinousR, FreestonI L. Non-invasive magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex. Lancet, 1985, 1: 1106-1106

[5] RajiA R, BowdenR E. Effect of high peak pulsed electromagnetic field on the degeneration and regeneration of the common peroneal nerve in rats. J Bone Join Surgery, 1983, 65: 478-478

[6] RuohonenJarmo, PanizzaMarcela, NilssonJan, et al.. Transverse-Field activation mechanism in magnetic stimulation of peripheral nerves. Electroencephalogr clin neurophysiol, 1996, 101: 167-167

[7] ChangC W, LienI N. Tardy effect of neurogenic muscular atrophy by magnetic stimulation. Am J Phy Med Rehab, 1994, 73: 275-275

[8] PockettS, GavinR M. Acceleration of peripheral nerve regeneration after crush injury. Neurosci Letter, 1985, 59: 221-221

[9] BrownC J, MackinnonS E, EvansP J, et al.. Self-evaluation of walking track measurement using A sciatic function index. Microsurgery, 1989, 10: 226-226

[10] BainJ R, MackinnonS E, HunterR T. Functional evaluation of complete sciatic, peroneal and posterior tibial nerve lesions in rat. Plastic reconstr Surgery, 1989, 83: 129-129

[11] EllisJ C, McCaffreyT V. Animal model for peripheral nerve grafting. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery, 1984, 92: 546-546

[12] de MedinaceliL, FreedW J, WyattR J. An index of the functional condition of rat sciatic nerve based on measurements made from walking tracks. Exp Neurol, 1982, 77: 634-634

[13] HwereG M, EvansP J, MackinonS E, et al.. Walking track analysis; A long-term assessment of peripheral nerve recovery. Plastic Reconstr Surgery, 1992, 89: 251-251

[14] NixW A, HopfH C. Electrical stimulation of regenerating nerve and its effect on motor recovery. Brain Res, 1983, 272: 21-21