Comparison of Neural Regeneration in a Nerve Conduit across a Large Gap of the Transected Sciatic Nerve in Rats with Early or Delayed Therapeutic Modalities of a Low-level Laser Phototherapy

• Main Authors: Chou, Jiun-Rou, 周君柔
• Other Authors: Liu, Bai-Shuan
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/49745167856138474240

碩士 === 中臺科技大學 === 醫學影像暨放射科學系暨研究所 === 103 === 　　This study used a newly developed nerve guidance conduit made using genipin-cross-linked chitosan and carbon nanotubes GCC nerve guide conduit). The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of large-area irradiation using an AlGaInP diode laser (660 nm) on the neurorehabilitation of transected sciatic nerves after bridging the GCC nerve guide conduit in rats. 　　The exterior of the GCC nerve guidance conduit was opaque and dark blue in color; the interior of the nerve bridge was hollow to aid in guiding damaged nerve fiber growth. Immediate and deferred treatment models were compared to investigate the impact on impaired sciatic nerve regeneration in rats. The rats were divided into four groups: the Laser/Sham group (no laser therapy), the Laser/Early group (two minutes of laser therapy per day beginning the day after surgery), the Laser/Delay group (two minutes of laser therapy per day beginning seven days after surgery), and the Autograft group. Each group consisted of six rats for a total of 24 rats. 　　Frstly,Twelve weeks after surgery, the groups who had underwent laser therapy showed significantly improved sciatic nerve function compared to the groups who had no laser therapy (P < 0.05) and the Laser/Early group showed more improvement than the Laser/Delay group. Before the rats were sacrificed, there was no observable pathological phenomena or adverse biocompatibility after 12 weeks of GCC nerve guidance conduit implantation. The Laser/Early group also exhibited less gastrocnemius atrophy than the Laser/Delay group and the Autograft group. In addition,the immunohistochemical results of nerve regeneration indicated that low-level laser therapy can stimulate damaged nerve repair and regeneration; also the Laser/Early group showed superior outcomes. This study investigated the effectiveness of different modes of laser therapy on the repair of damaged sciatic nerves. In summary of the experimental results above, laser therapy administered immediately after nerve damage has better treatment efficacy over delayed laser therapy.