Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (10): 1666-1669.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.193248

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Electrical stimulation promotes regeneration of injured oculomotor nerves in dogs

Lei Du1, Min Yang2, Liang Wan2, Xu-hui Wang2, Shi-ting Li2, *   

  1. 1 Department of Gerontology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • Received:2016-09-12 Online:2016-10-31 Published:2016-10-31
  • Contact: Shi-ting Li, M.D., Lsting66@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30571907; the International Science and Technology Cooperation Foundation of the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology, China, No. 10410711400.

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Abstract: Functional recovery afer oculomotor nerve injury is very poor. Electrical stimulation has been shown to promote regeneration of injured nerves. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation would improve the functional recovery of injured oculomotor nerves. Oculomotor nerve injury models were created by crushing the right oculomotor nerves of adult dogs. Stimulating electrodes were positioned in both proximal and distal locations of the lesion, and non-continuous rectangular, biphasic current pulses (0.7 V, 5 Hz) were administered 1 hour daily for 2 consecutive weeks. Analysis of the results showed that electrophysiological and morphological recovery of the injured oculomotor nerve was enhanced, indicating that electrical stimulation improved neural regeneration. Tus, this therapy has the potential to promote the recovery of oculomotor nerve dysfunction.

Key words: nerve regeneration, oculomotor nerve, electrical stimulation, dog, nerve injury, model, cranial nerve, peripheral nerve