Investigation of the effects of electrical stimulation in rats with sciatic nerve injury

Purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on nervous system in rats with sciatic nerve injury. In this study, 28 Wistar Albino rats (2 months old, male, 250-300 g) was used. Four groups were created and each group had 7 animals; control (K) group, electrical stimulation (ES) group, sciatic nerve injury (SSH) group and sciatic nerve injury + electrical stimulation (SSH+ES) group. The experimental sciatic nerve injury model was made by compressing the sciatic nerve with Yasargil FE 693 temporary aneurysm that a closing force (50 g/cm) for 2 minutes. Electrical stimulation was applied 200 μs current time, 20 Hz frequency, 2mA amplitude for 20 minutes during 15 days. At the end of the study all rats were sacrificed. In rats with sciatic nerve damage, the effects of electrical stimulation were revealed on nerves with determination of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in serum and brain tissue by ELISA analyzes. Brain BDNF levels were determined to be significantly higher in the SSH group compared to the other groups, and significantly lower in the K group compared to the other groups (p<0.001). Serum BDNF levels in the ES and SSH groups were found to be significantly higher than the K and SSH + ES groups (p<0.01). It was determined that the brain NGF level in the SSH group was significantly higher than the K and SSH + ES groups (p<0.05). Serum NGF levels in the SSH group and the SSH + ES group were found to be significantly lower than the K and ES groups (p<0.01). It was determined that electrical stimulation application caused an increase in brain BDNF level and a decrease in serum NGF level after the sciatic nerve injury was created. In conclusion, it is thought that BDNF and NGF neurotrophins may be released after sciatic nerve injury and electrical stimulation may have an effect on this release.