• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.345-355
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• 2012

This study purposed to examine the effect of low power laser on pain response and axonal regeneration. In order to prepare peripheral nerve injury models, we crushed the sciatic nerve of Sprague-Dawley rats and treated them with low power laser for 21 days. The rats were divided into 4 groups: normal group(n=10); control group(n=10) without any treatment after the induction of sciatic nerve crush injury; experimental group I(n=10) treated with low power laser(0.21$mJ/mm^2$) after the induction of sciatic nerve crush injury; and experimental group II(n=10) treated with low power laser(5.25$mJ/mm^2$) after the induction of sciatic nerve crush injury. We measured spontaneous pain behavior(paw withdrawal latency test) and mechanical allodynia(von Frey filament test) for evaluating pain behavioral response, and measured the sciatic function index for evaluating the functional recovery of peripheral nerve before the induction of sciatic nerve crush injury and on day 1, 7, 14 and 21 after the induction. After the experiment was completed, changes in the H & E stain and toluidine blue stain were examined histopathologically, and changes in MAG(myelin associated glycoprotein) and c-fos were examined immunohistologically. According to the results of this study, when low power laser was applied to rat models with sciatic nerve crush injury for 21 days and the results were examined through pain behavior evaluation and neurobehavioral, histopathological and immunohistological analyses, low power laser was found to affect pain response and axonal regeneration in both experimental group I and experimental group II. Moreover, the effect on pain response and axonal regeneration was more positive in experimental group I to which output 0.21$mJ/mm^2$ was applied than in experimental group II to which 5.25$mJ/mm^2$ was applied.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Background: The continuous search for a novel neuropathic pain drug with few or no side effects has been a main focus of researchers for decades. This study investigated the antinociceptive and neuroprotective effects of bromelain in sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats randomly divided into eight groups comprised of six animals each were used for this study. Peripheral neuropathy was induced via chronic constriction of the common sciatic nerve. Thermal hyperalgesic and mechanical allodynia were assessed using a hotplate and von Frey filaments, respectively. The functional recovery and structural architecture of the ligated sciatic nerve were evaluated using the sciatic functional index test and a histological examination of the transverse section of the sciatic nerve. The neuroprotective effects of bromelain were investigated in the proximal sciatic nerve tissue after 21 days of treatment. Results: Bromelain significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated both the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynic indices of neuropathic pain. There were improvements in sciatic function and structural integrity in rats treated with bromelain. These rats showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in sciatic nerve nuclear transcription factors (nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-related factors-1 [NrF-1] and NrF-2), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced membranelipid peroxidation compared with the ligated control group. Conclusions: This study suggest that bromelain mitigated neuropathic pain by enhancing the activities of nuclear transcription factors (NrF-1 and NrF-2) which increases the antioxidant defense system that abolish neuronal stress and structural disorganization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.79-97
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• 2010

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in severe functional deficit. Bee venom acupuncture has traditionally been used to treat several inflammatory diseases and chronic pain conditions. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the effects of bee venom (general bee venom, BV) and sweet bee venom (allergen-removed bee venom, SBV) acupuncture on the recovery rate of locomotor function, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the sciatic nerve, and the expression of c-Fos in the brain following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats, and to evaluate differences due to administration areas. Method: Walking track analysis, Western blot for BDNF and tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), and immunohistochemistry for c-Fos were performed. In this study, comparative analyses of the effects of BV and SBV acupuncture in relation to administration sites, contralateral side or ipsilateral side, were conducted. Results: In the present result, sciatic function index (SFI) in walking track analysis significantly decreased following sciatic crushed nerve injury. The expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the sciatic nerve increased after induction of sciatic crushed nerve injury. C-Fos expression in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) also increased. BV and SBV acupuncture treatment improved the SFI in walking track analysis. Treatment with SBV at 1mg/kg showed more potent enhancing effect on SFI compared to BV. Treatment with 1mg/kg BV or 1mg/kg SBV acupuncture suppressed the BDNF and TrkB expression in the sciatic nerve. BV and SBV acupuncture treatment also suppressed c-Fos expression in the PVN and vlPAG regions. Treatment with SBV at 1mg/kg showed more potent suppressing effect on c-Fos expression compared to BV when injected into the contralateral side of the injured nerve. Generally we could not find significant difference in the effects between contralateral side and ipsilateral side of the injured nerve. Conclusion: We have shown that BV and SBV acupuncture treatment can be used as the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of sciatic crushed nerve injury.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.187-195
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and electroacupuncture(EA) after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Subjects were classified TENS group with TENS application, EA group with EA application and Control group which is not applicated electrical stimulation. TENS and EA stimulations were applied post-injury day(PD) 1 to 14 after sciatic nerve injury. This study observed c-fos expression in rat lumbar spinal cord. In addition, the paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and sciatic function index(SFI) were measured. The results were as follows: At PD 1, control group had higher c-fos immunoreactivity than experimental groups. At PD 7 and 14, control group had higher c-fos immunoreactivity than experimental groups. The PWL of experimental groups were significantly lower than control group. The SFI had not significant difference in all groups. But the average of experimental groups were higher than control group. These results suggest that TENS and EA applications increasing sensory and motor nerve recovery while decreasing c-fos immunoreactivity after sciatic nerve crush injury.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.295-307
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• 2006

Styela clava, called non-native tunicate or sea squirt, is habitat which include bays and harbors in Korea and several sites in the sea faced world. We fabricate cellulose membrane nerve conduit (CMNC) from this native sea squirt skin, and evaluate the capacity of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve defect model. After processing the pure cellulose membrane from the sea squirt skin as we already published before, CMNC was designed as a non-tubular sheet with 14 mm length and 4 mm width. Total eleven male Spraque-Dawley rats (12 weeks, weighing 250 to 300g) were divided into sham group (n=2), silicone tube grafted control group (n=3) and experimental group (n=6). Each CMNC grafted nerve was evaluated after 4, 8 and 12 weeks in the experimental group, and after 12 weeks, sciatic function was evaluated with sciatic function index (SFI) and gait analysis, and histomorphology of nerve conduit and the innervated tissues of sciatic nerve were all examined using image analyzer and electromicroscopic methods in the all groups. The regenerated axon and nerve sheath were found only in the inner surface of the CMNC after 4 weeks and became more thicker after 8 and 12 weeks. In the TEM study, CMNC grafted group showed more abundant organized myelinated nerve fibers with thickened extracellular matrix than silicone conduit grafted group after 12 weeks. The sciatic function index (SFI) and ankle stance angle (ASA) in the functional evaluation were $-47.2{\pm}3.9$, $35.5^{\circ}{\pm}4.9^{\circ}$ in CMNC grafted group (n=2) and $-80.4{\pm}7.4$, $29.2^{\circ}{\pm}5.3^{\circ}$ in silicone conduit grafted group (n=3), respectively. And the myelinated axon was 41.59% in CMNC group and 9.51% in silicone conduit group to the sham group. The development of a bioactive CMNC to replace autogenous nerve grafts offers a potential and available approach to improved peripheral nerve regeneration. As we already published before, small peptide fragment derived from the basement membrane matrix proteins of squirt skin, which is a kind of anchoring protein composed of glycocalyx, induced the effective axonal regeneration with rapid growth of Schwann cells beneath the inner surface of CMNC. So the possibilities of clinical application as a peripheral nerve regeneration will be able to be suggested.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.128-139
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• 2004

말초신경은 외상이나 질병 등 여러 가지 원인으로 손상되기 쉬우며, 손상의 정도가 심하거나 치료가 지연되는 경우에는 심각한 기능 소실을 초래할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 수영이 말초신경손상후 운동기능의 회복과 뇌유인성 신경영양인자 (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) mRNA의 발현에 미치는 효과를 알아보기 위하여, 흰쥐 좌골신경에 압박 손상을 가하고 수영을 적용한 후 보행궤적분석 (walking track analysis)과 역전사연쇄반응 (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR)을 실시하였다. 그 결과, 좌골신경 압박손상된 쥐는 특징적인 보행패턴을 나타내어 좌골신경기능지수 (sciatic function index, SFI)가 현저히 낮아졌으며, BDNF mRNA의 발현이 증가하였다. 좌골신경 압박 손상후 수영을 한 쥐에서는 SFI가 현저히 향상되었으며, BDNF mRNA의 발현은 억제되었다. 이러한 결과는 말초신경손상후 수영이 BDNF mRNA의 발현을 조절함으로써 기능 회복을 촉진시키는 효과적인 치료방법이 될 수 있음을 제안하고 있다.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.15-32
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this Study was to identify the effect of Dokhwalgisaeng-tang(Duhuoqisheng-tang) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture on pain control and nerve regeneration after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve. Methods : Neuropathic pain was induced by crush-induced model of right sciatic nerve. Animal groups were divided as follows; Group I: no treatment control group, Group II : experimental group treated with Dokhwalgisaeng-tang(Duhuoqisheng-tang), Group III : experimental group treated with Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture, and Group IV : experimental group treated with Dokhwalgisaeng-tang(Duhuoqisheng-tang) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture. To evaluate pain intensity, each group was observed paw withdrawal threshold and immunoreactivity on the c-fos before and after respective treatments in five hours, first, third, and fifth day. To evaluate nerve regeneration, those were observed SFI(Sciatic Functional Index) and GAP-43(Growth Associated Protein 43) after each treatment in seventh and thirteenth day. Results : 1. Paw withdrawal threshold to the mechanical stimuli made the significant difference between group IV and the control group after five days of the experiment. 2. Paw withdrawal threshold to the thermal stimuli made the significant difference between group I and III, I and IV, II and IV. 3. In immunohistochemical response of c-fos, as time passes, the immunoreactivity of all groups was decreased gradually. Especially, group IV was observed the lowest after three days. 4. The differences of sciatic function indexes in each group were significantly between group I and III, I and IV, II and IV after 14 days, and between group I and III, I and IV, II and IV, III and IV after 21 days. 5. In immunohistochemical response of GAP-43, all groups had higher GAP-43 immunoreactivity at the 14 days from post-injury and group IV showed highest immunoreactivity. Conclusions : Based on above the results, it is proposed that Dokhwalgisaeng-tang(Duhuoqisheng-tang) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture may be helpful as a treatment in neuropathic pain and nerve regeneration in rat model.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-72
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshungi-san) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture on pain reduction and nerve regeneration after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve. Methods : Animal model was produced through crush injury of right sciatic nerve and they were divided into four groups; Group I: no treatment control group; Group II: experimental group treated with Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshungi-san); Group III: experimental group treated with Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture; Group IV: experimental group treated with Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshungi-san) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture. For the assessment of pain, this study was observed the paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and immunoreactivity on the substance-P. For the assessment of nerve regeneration, the sciatic functional index(SFI) and immunoreactivity on the BDNF were measured. Results : 1. In the assessment of pain, the PWL of experimental groups was significantly higher than control group and group IV was significantly higher than other groups at the all days. 2. In immunohistochemical response of substance-P, as time passes, the immunoreactivity of all groups were decreased gradully. Especially, group IV had the lowest immunoreactivity. 3. In the assessment of SFI, the SFI of experimental groups were significantly higher than control group. 4. In immunohistochemical response of BDNF, the BDNF immunoreactivity of all groups was significantly higher than control group and especially, group IV had the highest immunoreactivity at the 14 days after injury. 5. H & E stain was used on the liver and kidney to investigate toxic effect of Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture and Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshungi-san) on on 21 days after injury. However there were no any toxic effects both control group and experimental groups. Conclusions : On the basis of these results, we propose that Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshungi-san) and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture were related to pain reduction and motor nerve recovery, also decreased substance-P expression and increased BDNF expression after crush injury of sciatic nerve, especially these two treatments could be more effective when they were combined simultaneously.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.61-79
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of Dokwal-tang(Duhuo-tang) and Jungsongouhyul Pharmacopuncture on pain control and nerve regeneration after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve. Methods : Animal model was produced through right sciatic nerve crush injury and they were randomly divided into four groups; Group I: no treatment control group; Group II: experimental group treated with Dokwal-tang(Duhuo-tang); Group III: experimental group treated with Jungsongouhyul Pharmacopuncture; Group IV: experimental group treated with Dokwal-tang(Duhuo-tang) and Jungsongouhyul Pharmacopuncture. For the pain assessment, this study was observed the paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and immunoreactivity on the substance-P. For the nerve regeneration assessment, the sciatic functional index(SFI) and immunoreactivity on the GAP-43 were measured. Results : 1. In the pain assessment, the PWL of experimental groups were significantly higher than control group and group IV was significantly higher than other groups. 2. In immunohistochemical response of substance-P, as time passes, all groups had decreased immunoreactivity gradually. Specially, group IV was observed the lowest immunoreactivity. 3. In the assessment of SFI, the SFI of experimental groups were significantly higher than control group. 4. In immunohistochemical response of GAP-43, all groups had higher GAP-43 immunoreactivity at the 14 days from post-injury and at the all days, control group was observed most lower immunoreactivity and group IV was observed most higher immunoreactivity. Conclusions : These results of this study suggest that Dokwal-tang(Duhuo-tang) and Jungsongouhyul Pharmacopuncture was related with pain inhibition and motor nerve recovery, and decreased substance-P expression and increased GAP-43 expression after sciatic nerve crush injury.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.250-261
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• 2021

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) consists of disorders caused by spontaneous pain or induced by some stimulus. The objective was to verify the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) using 830 nm wavelength light at the affected paw and involved spinal cord segments during the warm or acute phase. Methods: Fifty-six mice were randomized into seven groups. Group (G) 1 was the placebo group; G2 and G3 were treated with PBM on the paw in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G4 and G5 treated with PBM on involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G6 and G7 treated with PBM on paw and involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively. Edema degree, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, skin temperature, and functional quality of gait (Sciatic Static Index [SSI] and Sciatic Functional Index [SFI]) were evaluated. Results: Edema was lower in G3 and G7, and these were the only groups to return to baseline values at the end of treatment. For thermal hyperalgesia only G3 and G5 returned to baseline values. Regarding mechanical hyperalgesia, the groups did not show significant differences. Thermography showed increased temperature in all groups on the seventh day. In SSI and SFI assessment, G3 and G7 showed lower values when compared to G1, respectively. Conclusions: PBM irradiation in the acute phase and in the affected paw showed better results in reducing edema, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, and in improving gait quality, demonstrating efficacy in treatment of CRPS-I symptoms.