To explore the value of conventional ultrasound combined with shear-wave elastography in the quantitative evaluation of sciatic nerve crush injury in rabbit models. Forty healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (=10 in each group):three crush injury (CI) groups (2,4,and 8 weeks after crush) and control group (without injury). The thickness and stiffness of the crushed sciatic nerves and denervated triceps surae muscles were measured at different time points and compared with histopathologic parameters. Inter-reader variability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients. Compared with the control group,the inner diameters of the sciatic nerves significantly increased in the 2-week CI group [(1.65±0.34) mm (0.97±0.15) mm,=0.00] but recovered to the nearly normal level in the 8-week CI group [(1.12±0.18) mm (0.97±0.15) mm,=0.06];however,compared with control group [(8.75±1.02)kPa],the elastic modulus of the nerves increased significantly in all the CI groups [2-week:(14.77±2.53) kPa;4-week:(19.12±3.46) kPa;and 8-week:(28.39±5.26) kPa;all =0.00];pathologically,massive hyperplasia of collagen fibers were found in the nerve tissues. The thickness of denervated triceps surae muscle decreased gradually,and the elastic modulus decreased 2 weeks after injury but increased gradually in the following 6 weeks;pathologically,massive hyperplasia of collagen fibers and adipocytes infiltration were visible,along with decreased muscle wet-weight ratio and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. The inter-reader agreements were good. Conventional ultrasound combined with shear-wave elastography is feasible for the quantitative evaluation of the morphological and mechanical properties of crushed nerves and denervated muscles.
Animals ; Crush Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; Elastic Modulus ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; Ultrasonography

We aimed to determine whether combination of LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor (LIMK2i) and phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) could restore erectile function through suppressing cavernous fibrosis and improving cavernous apoptosis in a rat model of cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI). Seventy 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were equally distributed into five groups as follows: (1) sham surgery (Group S), (2) CNCI (Group I), (3) CNCI treated with daily intraperitoneal administration of 10.0 mg kg^-1 LIMK2i (Group I + L), (4) daily oral administration of 20.0 mg kg^-1 udenafil, PDE5i (Group I + U), and (5) combined administration of 10.0 mg kg^-1 LIMK2i and 20.0 mg kg^-1 udenafil (Group I + L + U). Rats in Groups I + L, I + U, and I + L + U were treated with respective regimens for 2 weeks after CNCI. At 2 weeks after surgery, erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation. Penile tissues were processed for histological studies and western blot. Group I showed lower intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP, decreased immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin, higher apoptotic index, lower SM/collagen ratio, increased phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts, decreased protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Akt/eNOS) phosphorylation, increased LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation, and increased protein expression of fibronectin, compared to Group S. In all three treatment groups, erectile responses, protein expression of fibronectin, and SM/collagen ratio were improved. Group I + L + U showed greater improvement in erectile response than Group I + L. SM content and apoptotic index in Groups I + U and I + L + U were improved compared to those in Group I. However, Group I + L did not show a significant improvement in SM content or apoptotic index. The number of phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts was normalized in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Akt/eNOS phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + U and I + L + U, but not in Group I + L. LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Our data indicate that combined treatment of LIMK2i and PDE5i immediate after CN injury could improve erectile function by improving cavernous apoptosis or eNOS phosphorylation and suppressing cavernous fibrosis. Rectification of Akt/eNOS and LIMK2/cofilin pathways appears to be involved in their improvement.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Arterial Pressure ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction/pathology* ; Lim Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Male ; Nerve Crush ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Penis/pathology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/pathology* ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Phosphorylation ; Pyrimidines/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*

Double compression of the ulnar nerve, including Guyon's canal syndrome associated with cubital tunnel syndrome caused by the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle, is a very rare condition. We present a case of double crush syndrome of the ulnar nerve at the wrist and elbow in a 55-year-old man, as well as a brief review of the literature. Although electrodiagnostic findings were consistent with an ulnar nerve lesion only at the elbow, ultrasonography revealed a ganglion compressing the ulnar nerve at the hypothenar area and the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle lying in the cubital tunnel. Careful physical examination and ultrasound assessment of the elbow and wrist confirmed the clinical diagnosis prior to surgery.
Crush Syndrome* ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Deception ; Diagnosis* ; Elbow ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Ultrasonography* ; Wrist

OBJECTIVETo study the ability of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus mushroom in the treatment of nerve injury following peroneal nerve crush in Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSAqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus was given by daily oral administration following peroneal nerve crush injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways; and c-Jun and c-Fos genes were studied in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) whereas the activity of protein synthesis was assessed in peroneal nerves by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSPeripheral nerve injury leads to changes at the axonal site of injury and remotely located DRG containing cell bodies of sensory afferent neurons. Immunofluorescence studies showed that DRG neurons ipsilateral to the crush injury in rats of treated groups expressed higher immunoreactivities for Akt, MAPK, c-Jun and c-Fos as compared with negative control group (P <0.05). The intensity of nuclear ribonucleoprotein in the distal segments of crushed nerves of treated groups was significantly higher than in the negative control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONH. erinaceus is capable of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. Potential signaling pathways include Akt, MAPK, c-Jun, and c-Fos, and protein synthesis have been shown to be involved in its action.

Agaricales ; chemistry ; Animals ; Axons ; pathology ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Glucans ; analysis ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; enzymology ; physiology ; Peroneal Nerve ; physiology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) with continous over-expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on the motor function recovery and nerve regeneration of sciatic nerve of rats after electrical injury.

METHODSFive SD rats were collected to prepare ADSCs with over-expression of GDNF. One hundred and fifty SD rats were divided into normal control group (N), GDNF-ADSCs group (GA), ADSCs group (A), GDNF group (G), and physiological saline group (P) according to the random number table, with 30 rats in each group. Rats in group N were routinely fed without treatment, and rats in the other 4 groups were inflicted with electrical injury on sciatic nerve of thigh of the right hind leg. Rats in groups GA, A, G, and P were respectively injected with 100 µL suspension of ADSCs with over-expression of GDNF (1 x 10(7) cells per mL), 100 [µL ADSCs suspension (1 x 10(7) cells per mL), 100 µL GDNF solution (100 mg/L) , and 100 µL physiological saline to the surface of the injured nerves immediately after injury. Six rats of each group were collected for measuring hind limb stride from post injury week (PIW) 1 to 8, and morphology of the sciatic nerves was observed in PIW 8. In PIW 4, the protein expression of GDNF of sciatic nerves of the rest rats in each group was determined with Western blotting. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance of repeated measurement, and SNK test.

RESULTSCompared with that of group N, the hind limb stride values in groups GA, A, G, and P were significantly lower at each time point (with P values below 0.05). Compared with those of group P, the hind limb stride values in group GA from PIW 3 to 8, in group A in PIW 3, 5, and 7, and in group G in PIW 3, 5, 7, and 8 were significantly longer (with P values below 0.05). The hind limb stride values in group GA from PIW 4 to 8 were respectively (10.83 ± 0.97), (13.25 ± 1.40), (12.86 ± 1.42), (14.06 ± 1.50), and (15.09 ± 1.17) cm, which were significantly longer than those in group A [(8.90 ± 0.82), (9.03 ± 0.57), (9.27 ± 0.36), (9.86 ± 0.36), and (9.52 ± 0.58) cm] and group G [(8.87 ± 0.69), (8.51 ± 1.18), (9.34 ± 0.87), (9.76 ± 0.67), and (9.50 ± 1.22) cm], with P values below 0.05. Compared with that of group N, the number of myelinated nerve fibers of sciatic nerves was obviously decreased in group P but obviously increased in groups GA, A, and G; the diameter of axons was obviously shorter, and the myelin thickness was obviously increased in groups GA, A, G, and P in PIW 8 (with P values below 0.05). The number of myelinated nerve fibers in group GA was 31.2 ± 0.8, which was significantly higher than that in group A (23.7 ± 2.7), group G (22.3 ± 2.7), or group P (9.3 ± 2.8), with P values below 0.05. The diameter values of axons among groups P, A, G, and GA were similar (with P values above 0.05). The myelin thickness of rats in group GA was (3.41 ± 0.34) µm, which was significantly thicker than that in group A [(2.64 ± 0.37) µm] or group G [(2.41 ± 0.34) µm], with P values below 0.05. In PIW 4, the protein expression of GDNF of sciatic nerves was significantly higher in groups P, A, G, and GA than in group N (with P values below 0.05), and the protein expression of GDNF in group GA was significantly higher than that in group P, A, or G (with P values below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSADSCs over-expressing GDNF protein can obviously promote the motor function recovery and nerve regeneration of sciatic nerve of rats after electrical injury.

Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; pathology ; physiology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the combined role of mescenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing human BDNF (rAd/hBDNF) on the erectile dysfunction in rat with cavernous nerve injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats divided into 4 groups: control group, bilateral cavernous nerve crushing group (BCNC group), BCNC with MSCs group and BCNC with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group. After 4-week, functional assessment was done. PKH26 and BDNF staining of major pelvic ganglion and masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum were performed. Western blot analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was done in corpus cavernosum. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups showed significantly well-preserved erectile function compared with BCNC group. Moreover, the erectile function of MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group was significantly well-preserved than BCNC with MSCs group. The smooth muscle of corpus cavernosum was significantly preserved in BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups compared with BCNC group. More preservation of smooth muscle was observed in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone. Significant increase expression of eNOS and nNOS was noted in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone. CONCLUSIONS: The erectile function was more preserved after injection with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF in rat with ED caused by cavernous nerve injury. Therefore, the use of MSC infected with rAd/hBDNF may have a better treatment effect on ED cause by cavernous nerve injury.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Caves ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nerve Crush ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Organic Chemicals ; Rats ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate pathophysiological consequences and spontaneous recovery after cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI) in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty 4-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following groups: sham-operated group (n=10) and bilateral CNCI groups (n=10) for two different durations (12 and 24 weeks). At both time points, CN electrical stimulation was used to assess erectile function by measuring the intracavernous pressure. The expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and sonic hedgehog (SHH) was examined in penile tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for nerve growth factor (NGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and smooth muscle alpha-actin. RESULTS: CNCI significantly decreased erectile function at 12 weeks (51.7% vs. 71.9%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05) and increased the expression of HIF-1alpha and decreased the expression of eNOS, nNOS, and SHH. At 24 weeks, erectile function in the CNCI group was improved with no significant difference versus the sham group (70.5% vs. 63.3%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05) or the CN group at 12 weeks (51.7% vs. 63.3%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05). By RT-PCR, the increase in HIF-1alpha and decrease in SHH mRNA was restored at 24 weeks. By immunohistochemistry, the expression of eNOS and nNOS was increased at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: CN injury induces significantly impaired erectile function and altered gene and protein expression, which suggests that local hypoxic and inflammatory processes may contribute to this change. Significant spontaneous recovery of erectile function was observed at 6 months after CN crush injury.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Caves ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hedgehog Proteins ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Salicylamides

PURPOSE: To investigate pathophysiological consequences and spontaneous recovery after cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI) in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty 4-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following groups: sham-operated group (n=10) and bilateral CNCI groups (n=10) for two different durations (12 and 24 weeks). At both time points, CN electrical stimulation was used to assess erectile function by measuring the intracavernous pressure. The expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and sonic hedgehog (SHH) was examined in penile tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for nerve growth factor (NGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and smooth muscle alpha-actin. RESULTS: CNCI significantly decreased erectile function at 12 weeks (51.7% vs. 71.9%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05) and increased the expression of HIF-1alpha and decreased the expression of eNOS, nNOS, and SHH. At 24 weeks, erectile function in the CNCI group was improved with no significant difference versus the sham group (70.5% vs. 63.3%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05) or the CN group at 12 weeks (51.7% vs. 63.3%, mean ICP/BP ratio, p<0.05). By RT-PCR, the increase in HIF-1alpha and decrease in SHH mRNA was restored at 24 weeks. By immunohistochemistry, the expression of eNOS and nNOS was increased at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: CN injury induces significantly impaired erectile function and altered gene and protein expression, which suggests that local hypoxic and inflammatory processes may contribute to this change. Significant spontaneous recovery of erectile function was observed at 6 months after CN crush injury.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Caves ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hedgehog Proteins ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Salicylamides

Sciatic nerve injury is a common disease of peripheral nerve in clinic. After nerve injury, there are many dysfunctions in motoneurons and muscles following regeneration. Previous studies mostly investigated the aspects related to the injured nerve, and the effect on the recurrent inhibition (RI) pathway of spine following regeneration was not fully understood. Following reinnervation after temporary sciatic nerve crush, the functional alteration of RI was studied. In adult rats, RI between lateral gastrocnemius-soleus (LG-S) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) motor pools was assessed by conditioning monosynaptic reflexes (MSRs) elicited from the cut dorsal roots and recorded from either the LG-S or MG nerves by antidromic stimulation of the synergist muscle nerve. The following results were obtained. (1) The RI of MSRs in rats was almost lost (<5 weeks) after sciatic nerve crush. Although the RI partially recovered following reinnervation (6 weeks), it remained permanently depressed (up to 14 weeks). (2) Sciatic nerve crush on one side did not affect the contralateral RI. (3) Sciatic nerve crush did not induce any motoneuron loss revealed by immunohistochemistry. Peripheral nerve temporary disconnection causes long term alterations in RI pathway which make up motoneuron's function enhance for the alteration of muscle power and suggests that peripheral nerve injury induces long term plastic changes in the spinal motoneuron circuitry.
Animals ; Long-Term Synaptic Depression ; physiology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; physiology ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons, Afferent ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reflex, Monosynaptic ; physiology ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model mimicking erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy by crush injury or reaction of the cavernous nerve (CN).

METHODSThirty rats were randomized into CN crush group, CN resection group and sham-operated group. Four weeks after surgery, the rat models were evaluated by apomorphine test and ICP/MAP measurement. Fluorogold (FG) retrograde tracer was used to assess the CN injury. The penile tissues were then harvested for immunohistochemical detection of the nNOS-positive fibers to evaluate the CN injury.

RESULTSThe rats in CN crush group and CN resection group exhibited erectile dysfunction in apomorphine test or in response to electrical stimulation of the ganglion stellatum (MPG). In the sham-operated group, the rats showed normal erectile function with increased ICP/MAP following electrical stimulation (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed reduced nNOS-positive fibers in both CN crush group and CN resection group as compared with those in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), showing no significant difference between the former two groups (P>0.05). The FG-positive MPG cells in CN crush group and CN resection group were significantly less than that in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), and the positive cells were even less in CN resection group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rat CN is structurally similar to human CN, and crush injury and resection of the CN are both reliable methods for establishing rat models of erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Male ; Nerve Crush ; Penis ; innervation ; Postoperative Period ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley