The Functional Evaluation of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rat Sciatic Nerve Lesions

Abstract

Introduction. In animals, the functional evaluation of peripheral nerve lesions represents a motivating challenge in the search of specific experimental methods (sciatic functional index, electro-physiological, histological and morphometrical methods). Aims. This study we intended to adapt the aquisition and the analysis of rat footprints and of the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) in animals with two types of sciatic nerve injuries, with crush lesion and with sectioned and sutured nerve. Materials and methods. Two groups of white Wistar rats, males, 15 rats each group, one group with crush lesion and the other with sectioned and sutured nerve, were evaluated and compared, by determining the SFI at 1 and 2 weeks post-surgery. Results. SFI values increased statistically significantly at 2 weeks post-surgery, in both groups. The difference is statistically significant between the group with crush lesion and the one with sectioned and sutured nerve. Inside each group, the rats with significantly increased SFI at 1 week maintained the significantly increased values also at 2 weeks (r=0.54; p<0.04 – for section group and r=0.991; p<0.000 – for crush group). Conclusions. In crushed peripheral nerve the regeneration is more rapid. In order to evaluate the peripheral nerve regeneration, in crushing nerve injury the SFI method based on photographic record is more indicated. Keywords: regeneration, sciatic functional index, peripheral nerve.