Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Nerve Conduit Transplantation on Regeneration and Function Recovery of Long-Defect Median Nerve
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ(med.sci).2021.0613
- VernacularTitle:电针联合神经导管移植对长缺损正中神经再生和功能恢复的影响
- Author:
Fan-qi MENG
1
;
Wen-ya PEI
1
;
Bo-yu JIAO
1
;
Jing-wen RUAN
1
;
Guan-heng HE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion， The First Affiliated Hospital， Sun Yat-sen University， Guangzhou 510080， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
median nerve defect;
electroacupuncture;
chitosan nerve conduit
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2021;42(6):846-853
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture combined with nerve conduit transplantation in repairing long segmental defect of median nerve. MethodsEighteen adult SD rats were randomly divided into control group， conduit group and conduit+EA group， with 6 rats in each group. A 10 mm defect model of the left median nerve in rats was established. The conduit group and the conduit+EA group were bridged with the chitosan conduit at the nerve defect， while the median nerve defect was used as a control. The conduit+EA group was treated with EA at Tianquan （PC2） and Quze （PC3） on the affected limb on the 4th day after the operation. The treatment was performed once a day and 5 consecutive treatments per week for a total of 4 weeks. The conduit+EA group received electroacupuncture at Tianquan （PC2） and Quze （PC3） points of the upper limb of the affected side on the 4th day after surgery， once a day， 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The grid walking test and the tape removal test were used to evaluate the recovery of motor and sensory functions of the median nerve in the three groups of rats. The expression of neurofilament protein （NF） and S100 calcium-binding protein β （S100β） at the median nerve was detected by immunofluorescence staining to observe the regeneration of damaged median nerve fibers. Spinal cord corresponding to the median nerve at C5 segment was stained with Nissl to observe the survival neurons of spinal cord. ResultsIn the behavioral test， the improvement of forelimb loss rate and contact time in tape removal test in the conduit+EA group was significantly better than that in the conduit group and the control group （P<0.05）. Immunofluorescence staining showed that， in the conduit+EA group， the expression of NF and S100β at the proximal and distal ends of the median nerve defect could be seen after treatment， and the number of NF and S100β was significantly higher than that in the conduit group （P<0.05）. In addition， Nissl staining showed that the number of motor neurons in the left anterior horn at the C5 segment of the conduit+EA group was significantly more than that in the conduit group and the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionsElectroacupuncture combined with nerve conduit transplantation can promote the survival of spinal cord neurons corresponding to the median nerve. Meanwhile， Electroacupuncture may better promote the growth of nerve fibers from the proximal end of the median nerve in the long segmental defect into the bridged chitosan nerve conduit to reach the distal end， thus promoting the recovery of motor and sensory functions of the injured upper limbs of rats.
