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The Journal of Neuroscience, April 1, 2000, 20(7):2602-2608
Brief Electrical Stimulation Promotes the Speed and Accuracy of
Motor Axonal Regeneration
Abdulhakeem A.
Al-Majed1,
Catherine M.
Neumann1,
Thomas M.
Brushart2, and
Tessa
Gordon1
1 Department of Pharmacology, Division of Neuroscience,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2S2, Canada, and
2 Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurology, Johns
Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland
Functional recovery is often poor despite the capacity for axonal
regeneration in the peripheral nervous system and advances in
microsurgical technique. Regeneration of axons in mixed nerve into
inappropriate pathways is a major contributing factor to this failure.
In this study, we use the rat femoral nerve model of transection and
surgical repair to evaluate (1) the effect of nerve transection
on the speed of regeneration and the generation of motor-sensory
specificity, (2) the efficacy of electrical stimulation in accelerating
axonal regeneration and promoting the reinnervation of appropriate
muscle pathways by femoral motor nerves, and (3) the mechanism of
action of electrical stimulation. Using the retrograde neurotracers
fluorogold and fluororuby to backlabel motoneurons that regenerate
axons into muscle and cutaneous pathways, we found the following. (1)
There is a very protracted period (10 weeks) of axonal outgrowth that
adds substantially to the delay in axonal regeneration (staggered
regeneration). This process of staggered regeneration is associated
with preferential motor reinnervation (PMR). (2) One hour to 2 weeks of
20 Hz continuous electrical stimulation of the parent axons proximal to
the repair site dramatically reduces this period (to 3 weeks) and
accelerates PMR. (3) The positive effect of short-term electrical
stimulation is mediated via the cell body, implicating an enhanced
growth program. The effectiveness of such a short-period low-frequency
electrical stimulation suggests a new therapeutic approach to
accelerate nerve regeneration after injury and, in turn, improve
functional recovery.
Key words:
electrical stimulation; staggered regeneration; motoneuron; TTX; PMR; retrograde labeling
Copyright © 2000 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/00/2072602-07$05.00/0
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