Anethole Prevents the Alterations Produced by Diabetes Mellitus in the Sciatic Nerve of Rats.

Anethole is a terpenoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuronal blockade effects, and the present work was undertaken to study the neuroprotective activity of anethole against diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced neuropathy. Streptozotocin-induced DM rats were used to investigate the effects of anethole treatment on morphological, electrophysiological, and biochemical alterations of the sciatic nerve (SN). Anethole partially prevented the mechanical hyposensitivity caused by DM and fully prevented the DM-induced decrease in the cross-sectional area of the SN. In relation to electrophysiological properties of SN fibers, DM reduced the frequency of occurrence of the 3rd component of the compound action potential (CAP) by 15%. It also significantly reduced the conduction velocity of the 1st and 2nd CAP components from 104.6 ± 3.47 and 39.8 ± 1.02 to 89.9 ± 3.03 and 35.4 ± 1.56 m/s, respectively, and increased the duration of the 2nd CAP component from 0.66 ± 0.04 to 0.82 ± 0.09 ms. DM also increases oxidative stress in the SN, altering values related to thiol, TBARS, SOD, and CAT activities. Anethole was capable of fully preventing all these DM electrophysiological and biochemical alterations in the nerve. Thus, the magnitude of the DM-induced neural effects seen in this work, and the prevention afforded by anethole treatment, place this compound in a very favorable position as a potential therapeutic agent for treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Bilateral sciatic artery persistence in a patient with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

A persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 0.01% to 0.05%. This condition can cause ischemic events in the lower limbs and sciatic artery aneurysms but can also be asymptomatic. A PSA can complicate the treatment of other coexistent vascular diseases due to the thin caliber of the external iliac and femoral arteries. We report a case of a patient with bilateral PSAs and an infrarenal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was successfully treated by the endovascular approach. An ultra-low profile endograft associated with access incisions slightly above the usual position was used to overcome this challenging access.

Innervation patterns of hamstring muscles, including morphological descriptions and clinical implication.

PURPOSE: The hamstrings muscles are innervated by sciatic nerve branches. However, previous studies assessing which and how many branches innervate each muscle have yielded discrepant results. This study investigated the innervation patterns of hamstrings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five cadaver limbs were investigated. The average age of subjects was 78.6 ± 17.2 years, with 48.6% male and 51.4% female, while 57.1% were right limbs and 42.9% left. The sciatic nerve, hamstrings and associated structures were dissected. The number of nerve branches for each muscle and the level where they penetrated the muscle were recorded. RESULTS: The sciatic nerve was connected by a fibrous band to the long head of the biceps femoris. This muscle was innervated by either one or two branches, which penetrated the muscle into its superior or middle third. The short head of the biceps femoris was innervated by a single nerve that usually penetrated its middle third, but sometimes inferiorly or, less commonly, superiorly. The semitendinosus was always innervated by two branches, the superior branch penetrating its upper third, the inferior mostly the middle third. The semimembranosus usually was innervated by a single nerve branch that penetrated the muscle at its middle or lower third. Four specimens revealed common nerves that innervated than one muscle. CONCLUSIONS: We have characterized hamstring innervation patterns, knowledge that is relevant to neurolysis, surgery of the thigh, and other procedures. Moreover, a mechanical connection between the sciatic nerve and biceps femoris long head was identified that could explain certain neuralgias.

The Association between Anatomical Variants of Musculoskeletal Structures and Nerve Compressions of the Lower Limb: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the main anatomical variants and morphofunctional alterations in the lower limb that compress surrounding nervous structures in the gluteal region, thigh region, and leg and foot region. Methods: We searched the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS databases from their inception up to October 2023. An assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA) was used to evaluate methodological quality, and the Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tool for case reports was also used. Forest plots were generated to assess the prevalence of variants of the gluteal region, thigh, and leg. Results: According to the forest plot of the gluteal region, the prevalence was 0.18 (0.14-0.23), with a heterogeneity of 93.52%. For the thigh region, the forest plot presented a prevalence of 0.10 (0.03-0.17) and a heterogeneity of 91.18%. The forest plot of the leg region was based on seven studies, which presented a prevalence of 0.01 (0.01-0.01) and a heterogeneity of 96.18%. Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis showed that, in studies that analyzed nerve compressions, the prevalence was low in the thigh and leg regions, while in the gluteal region, it was slightly higher. This is mainly due to the PM region and its different variants. We believe that it is important to analyze all the variant regions defined in this study and that surgeons treating the lower limb should be attentive to these possible scenarios so that they can anticipate possible surgical situations and thus avoid surgical complications.

A Comparative Investigation of Axon-Blood Vessel Growth Interaction in the Regenerating Sciatic and Optic Nerves in Adult Mice.

The vascular and the nervous systems share similarities in addition to their complex role in providing oxygen and nutrients to all cells. Both are highly branched networks that frequently grow close to one another during development. Vascular patterning and neural wiring share families of guidance cues and receptors. Most recently, this relationship has been investigated in terms of peripheral nervous system (PNS) regeneration, where nerves and blood vessels often run in parallel so endothelial cells guide the formation of the Büngner bands which support axonal regeneration. Here, we characterized the vascular response in regenerative models of the central and peripheral nervous system. After sciatic nerve crush, followed by axon regeneration, there was a significant increase in the blood vessel density 7 days after injury. In addition, the optic nerve crush model was used to evaluate intrinsic regenerative potential activated with a combined treatment that stimulated retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) regrowth. We observed that a 2-fold change in the total number of blood vessels occurred 7 days after optic nerve crush compared to the uncrushed nerve. The difference increased up to a 2.7-fold change 2 weeks after the crush. Interestingly, we did not observe differences in the total number of blood vessels 2 weeks after crush, compared to animals that had received combined treatment for regeneration and controls. Therefore, the vascular characterization showed that the increase in vascular density was not related to the efficiency of both peripheral and central axonal regeneration.

Excision of a Solitary Fibrous Tumor in the Sciatic Notch with Sciatic Nerve Compression - A Rare Clinical Case / Excisão de tumor fibroso solitário na chanfradura ciática com compressão do nervo ciático - Um raro caso clínico

Abstract We present the clinical case of a 41-year-old woman with no relevant personal history. The patient complained of diffuse self-limiting abdominal pain, and we incidentally detected an extra-abdominal, extraperitoneal tumor mass at the level of the right sciatic notch. The abdominal complaints were gone during the initial follow-up, but the patient developed sciatica radiating to the right foot and electric shock-like pain. A computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy revealed a low-grade mesenchymal neoplasm of the soft tissues with characteristics consistent with a solitary extrapleural fibrous tumor. The pelvis team of the orthopedics department received the patient for surgical excision of the lesion. The procedure occurred with no complications, and we excised the totality of the lesion with tumor-free margins. An anatomopathological examination was compatible with the biopsy assessment. The excision of the lesion resulted in complete resolution of the sciatic nerve compression-related symptoms.

Resumo É apresentado um caso clínico de uma paciente de 41 anos, sem antecedentes pessoais de relevo, que foi estudada por dor abdominal difusa autolimitada, tendo sido detectada incidentalmente uma massa tumoral extrabdominal, extraperitoneal ao nível da chanfradura ciática direita. Durante o estudo do caso, a doente resolveu as queixas abdominais, mas desenvolveu quadro de ciatalgia, irradiada para o pé direito e dor tipo choque elétrico. Biópsia guiada por TAC revelou tratar-se de uma neoplasia mesenquimatosa dos tecidos moles, de baixo grau, com características que a enquadram em um tumor fibroso solitário extrapleural. A paciente foi referenciada para a equipe de bacia do serviço de ortopedia para excisão cirúrgica da lesão, tendo sido operada sem intercorrências - excisão total da lesão, com margens livres, foi obtida e o exame anatomopatológico foi compatível com o realizado na biópsia. Após excisão da lesão, ocorreu resolução completa dos sintomas relacionados com compressão do nervo ciático.

The Role and Mechanism of Aspirin Combined with Rehabilitation Training in the Repair of Sciatic Nerve Injury and the Changes in the Schwannocytus (Schwann Cells) in Rats / Rol y Mecanismo de la Aspirina Combinados con Entrenamiento de Rehabilitación en la Reparación de la Lesión del Nervio Ciático y los Cambios en los Schwannocitos (Células de Schwann) en Ratas

SUMMARY: This study investigated the role and mechanism of aspirin combined with rehabilitation training in the nerve injury repair and Schwann cell changes in rats with sciatic nerve injury. Totally, 120 male healthy SD rats were randomly divided into sham, model, aspirin, and aspirin + rehabilitation groups, with 30 rats in each group. The sciatic nerve function index (SFI), photothermal pain tolerance threshold and inclined plane test results at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation were compared. The distance of sensory nerve regeneration and the expression of S100B protein in Schwann cells were analyzed. Compared with the sham group, the SFI of the model, aspirin, and aspirin+rehabilitation groups were significantly lower at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation. However, the aspirin and aspirin+rehabilitation groups had significantly higher SFI than the model group. The SFI at 6 and 8 weeks after operation was higher in the aspirin+rehabilitation group than that in the aspirin group (P<0.05). The photothermal pain tolerance threshold of the sham, aspirin, and aspirin+rehabilitation groups were significantly higher than those of the model group at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation (P<0.05). The inclination angles of the model, aspirin, and aspirin+rehabilitation groups were significantly lower than those of the sham group at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation, and the inclination angle of the aspirin+rehabilitation group was significantly higher than that of the model and aspirin groups (P<0.05). The sensory nerve regeneration distance in aspirin and aspirin+rehabilitation groups was higher than that in the sham and model groups (P<0.05). The expression of S100B protein in the aspirin and aspirin+rehabilitation groups was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). Aspirin combined with rehabilitation training can promote the functional recovery of sciatic nerve injury, and the mechanism may be related to the increase of the expression of S100B protein in Schwann cells.

En este estudio se investigó el papel y el mecanismo que desempeña la aspirina combinada, con el entrenamiento de rehabilitación en la reparación de lesiones nerviosas y los cambios en los schwannocitos en ratas con lesiones en el nervio ciático. En total, 120 ratas SD macho sanas se dividieron aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos de 30 ratas en cada uno: simulación, modelo, aspirina y aspirina + rehabilitación. Se compararon el índice de función del nervio ciático (SFI), el umbral de tolerancia al dolor fototérmico y los resultados de la prueba del plano inclinado a las 4, 6 y 8 semanas después de la operación. Se analizó la distancia de regeneración del nervio sensorial y la expresión de la proteína S100B en los schwannocitos. En comparación con el grupo simulado, el SFI de los grupos modelo, aspirina y aspirina+rehabilitación fue significativamente menor a las 4, 6 y 8 semanas después de la operación. Sin embargo, los grupos de aspirina y aspirina + rehabilitación tuvieron un SFI significativamente más alto que el grupo modelo. El SFI a las 6 y 8 semanas después de la operación fue mayor en el grupo de aspirina + rehabilitación que en el grupo de aspirina (P<0,05). El umbral de tolerancia al dolor fototérmico de los grupos simulado, aspirina y aspirina+rehabilitación fue significativamente mayor que el del grupo modelo a las 4, 6 y 8 semanas después de la operación (P<0,05). Los ángulos de inclinación de los grupos modelo, aspirina y aspirina+rehabilitación fueron significativamente menores que los del grupo simulado a las 4, 6 y 8 semanas después de la operación, y el ángulo de inclinación del grupo aspirina+rehabilitación fue significativamente mayor que el de los grupos modelo y aspirina (P<0.05). La distancia de regeneración del nervio sensorial en los grupos de aspirina y aspirina+rehabilitación fue mayor que en los grupos simulado y modelo (P<0,05). La expresión de la proteína S100B en los grupos de aspirina y aspirina+rehabilitación fue mayor que en el grupo modelo (P<0,05). La aspirina combinada con el entrenamiento de rehabilitación puede promover la recuperación funcional de la lesión del nervio ciático, y el mecanismo puede estar relacionado con el aumento de la expresión de la proteína S100B en los schwannocitos.

Investigation of the Neuro-Regenerative Effects of Bioresonance and Magnetotherapy in Sciatic Nerve Damage-Induced Rats / Investigación de los Efectos Neurorregenerativos de Biorresonancia y Magnetoterapia en Ratas Inducidas por Daño del Nervio Ciático

SUMMARY: Peripheral nerve damage is a significant clinical problem that can lead to severe complications in patients. Regarding the regeneration of peripheral nerves, it is crucial to use experimental animals' nerves and use different evaluation methods. Epineural or perineural suturing is the gold standard in treating sciatic nerve injury, but nerve repair is often unsuccessful. This study aimed to investigate the neuroregenerative effects of magnetotherapy and bioresonance in experimental animals with sciatic nerve damage. In this study, 24 female Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups (n=6) as follows: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (Axonotmesis control), Group 3 (Anastomosis control), Group 4 (Axonotmesis + magnetotherapy), Group 5 (Anastomosis + magnetotherapy), Group 6 (Axonotmesis + bioresonance), Group 7 (Anastomosis + bioresonance). Magnetotherapy and bioresonance treatments were applied for 12 weeks. Behavioural tests and EMG tests were performed at the end of the 12th week. Then the rats were sacrificed, and a histopathological evaluation was made. The statistical significance level was taken as 5 % in the calculations, and the SPSS (IBM SPSS for Windows, ver.21) statistical package program was used for the calculations. Statistically significant results were obtained in animal behaviour tests, EMG, and pathology groups treated with magnetotherapy. There was no statistically significant difference in the groups treated with bioresonance treatment compared to the control groups. Muscle activity and nerve repair occurred in experimental animals with acute peripheral nerve damage due to 12 weeks of magnetotherapy, and further studies should support these results.

El daño a los nervios periféricos es un problema clínico importante que puede conducir a complicaciones graves en los pacientes. En cuanto a la regeneración de los nervios periféricos, es crucial utilizar los nervios de los animales de experimentación y diferentes métodos de evaluación. La sutura epineural o perineural es el gold estándar en el tratamiento de lesiones del nervio ciático, pero la reparación del nervio a menudo no tiene éxito. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los efectos neuroregenerativos de la magnetoterapia y la biorresonancia en animales de experimentación con daño del nervio ciático. En el estudio, 24 ratas hembras Wistar se dividieron en 7 grupos (n=6) de la siguiente manera: Grupo 1 (Control), Grupo 2 (Control de axonotmesis), Grupo 3 (Control de anastomosis), Grupo 4 (Axonotmesis + magnetoterapia), Grupo 5 (Anastomosis + magnetoterapia), Grupo 6 (Axonotmesis + biorresonancia), Grupo 7 (Anastomosis + biorresonancia). Se aplicaron durante 12 semanas tratamientos de magnetoterapia y biorresonancia. Las pruebas de comportamiento y las pruebas de EMG se realizaron al final de la semana 12. Luego se sacrificaron las ratas y se realizó una evaluación histopatológica. El nivel de significación estadística se tomó como 5 % en los cálculos, y se utilizó el programa de paquete estadístico SPSS (IBM SPSS para Windows, ver.21). Se obtuvieron resultados estadísticamente significativos en pruebas de comportamiento animal, EMG y grupos de patología tratados con magnetoterapia. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en los grupos con tratamiento de biorresonancia en comparación con los grupos controles. La actividad muscular y la reparación nerviosa, se produjeron en animales de experimentación con daño nervioso periférico agudo, debido a 12 semanas de magnetoterapia.Estudios adicionales deberían respaldar estos resultados.

Systemic and Peripheral Mechanisms of Cortical Stimulation-Induced Analgesia and Refractoriness in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain.

Epidural motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is an effective treatment for refractory neuropathic pain; however, some individuals are unresponsive. In this study, we correlated the effectiveness of MCS and refractoriness with the expression of cytokines, neurotrophins, and nociceptive mediators in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), sciatic nerve, and plasma of rats with sciatic neuropathy. MCS inhibited hyperalgesia and allodynia in two-thirds of the animals (responsive group), and one-third did not respond (refractory group). Chronic constriction injury (CCI) increased IL-1ß in the nerve and DRG, inhibited IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17A in the nerve, decreased ß-endorphin, and enhanced substance P in the plasma, compared to the control. Responsive animals showed decreased NGF and increased IL-6 in the nerve, accompanied by restoration of local IL-10 and IL-17A and systemic ß-endorphin. Refractory animals showed increased TNF-α and decreased IFNγ in the nerve, along with decreased TNF-α and IL-17A in the DRG, maintaining low levels of systemic ß-endorphin. Our findings suggest that the effectiveness of MCS depends on local control of inflammatory and neurotrophic changes, accompanied by recovery of the opioidergic system observed in neuropathic conditions. So, understanding the refractoriness to MCS may guide an improvement in the efficacy of the technique, thus benefiting patients with persistent neuropathic pain.

The effects of fat graft and platelet-rich fibrin combination after epineurectomy in rats

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: One of the most important factors that adversely affects the outcome of peripheral nerve surgery is the formation of epineural and extraneural scar tissue after surgery. Many surgical methods and pharmacological and chemical agents have been used to prevent the formation of epineural scar tissue, but satisfactory results have not been achieved in clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of fat graft and platelet-rich fibrin on the formation of epineural scar tissue and on nerve healing in the mature rat model. METHODS: A total of 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. A circumferential segment of epineurium was excised from both bilateral sciatic nerves. The epineurectomized right nerve segment was wrapped with a combination of fat graft and platelet-rich fibrin (experimental group), while the left nerve segment did not receive any surgical procedure other than the epineurectomy (sham group). Notably, 12 randomly selected rats were sacrificed in the fourth week for histopathological examination of early results. The other 12 rats were sacrificed in the eighth week for late results. RESULTS: The formation of fibrosis, inflammation, and myelin degeneration were less common in the experimental group, while nerve regeneration was found to be higher at both 4 and 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: The intraoperative application of a combination of fat graft and platelet-rich fibrin appears to be effective on nerve healing after surgery at both the early and late periods.

Persistent Sciatic Artery with Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a congenital malformation due to incomplete involution during the embryonic period. Its etiology is unknown, with an estimated incidence of 0.02 - 0.04% in the whole population and a mean age of 60-65 years. Its presentation can be bilateral. It is asymptomatic in most cases and is usually detected accidentally; however, some symptoms may appear, such as claudication, sciatic neuralgia, and pain in the affected limb. It can also manifest as an aneurysmal dilatation or thrombosis that can generate distal embolism with ischemia. CASE REPORT: In this case study, a patient in her 90s with a suspected peripheral arterial disease, which required an angiotomography of the lower limb, showing a superficial femoral artery running to the middle and distal third of the thigh and a vascular structure running in the sciatic neurovascular bundle corresponding to a persistent sciatic artery presenting atherosclerotic changes and extensive occlusion, was presented. The patient's treatment was clinical with dual antiplatelet therapy and prophylactic anticoagulation. This was due to comorbidities and age. Moreover, the PSA occlusion was not critical and did not significantly impact the patient's quality of life. CONCLUSION: Most patients with this anatomical variant are asymptomatic all their lives, but some of them may present symptoms with serious consequences. It is important to suspect it by clinical presentation and perform diagnostic confirmation by angiotomography. Treatment has yielded excellent results with endovascular techniques. Certain patients only require conservative treatment with anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.

Terminal nerve entry points' locations to muscles of the thigh for selective peripheral neurectomy in the adult population: a cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: Spasticity is the result of a variety of lesions to the central nervous system and one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. Selective peripheral neurectomy (SPN) is a surgical procedure that permanently decreases focal spasticity. The authors' objective is to provide recommendations, in terms of probabilities, for locating terminal motor entry points to muscles of the thigh, as alternatives for proximal incision sites to SPN. METHODS: The femoral, obturator, and sciatic nerves, and its corresponding motor rami, were systematically dissected on cadaveric specimens, and terminal motor entry points to each muscle of the thigh were located and carefully measured, relative to the length of the thigh. Measurement distributions were obtained and normal transformations were used when necessary. RESULTS: In 23 adult cadaveric specimens, 779 motor rami were dissected. Entry points' locations are presented as a percentage of the length of the thigh in means and standard deviations, which roughly corresponds to 64 and 95% probability of finding a motor entry point. CONCLUSION: Alternative incisions directly over the motor entry points, for the muscles of the thigh, may be helpful when considering SPN as treatment for focal spasticity. A prior degree of certainty of the location of the nerve to be severed may simplify surgical approach.

Peripheral nerve regeneration in rats using nerve graft in a vein conduit pre-filled with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF).

Treatment of peripheral nerve injury is not always satisfactory. To improve results, specific adjuvant methods have been used, such as platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and vein conduits. The goal of this study was to assess whether use of PRF and vein conduits after nerve suture improves nerve regeneration as measured by a functional score and histomorphometry analysis. Ten isogenic spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly assigned to 4 experimental procedures: 1) Sham group (n = 10); 2) Nerve graft (NG) group (n = 10); 3) Nerve graft covered with a vein conduit (NGVC) (n = 10); and 4) Nerve graft covered with a vein conduit pre-filled with PRF (NGVCP) (n = 10). Nerve repair results were evaluated on: sciatic functional index (SFI) at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days; morphometric and morphologic analysis of the distal nerve; and histological analysis of Fluoro-Gold® stained motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. Compared to the Sham control group, the NGVC and NGVCP groups exhibited lower SFI on all measures. The NGVC group showed improvement in SFI at day 90, which was significant compared to the NG group. Fiber and axon diameters were comparable in the NGVC and NGVCP groups, which were both significantly lower than in the Sham and NG groups. Significant improvement was expected with PRF, but in fact the release of factors from this substance was not as effective as hoped.

Effects of systemic vascular photobiomodulation using LED or laser on sensory-motor recovery following a peripheral nerve injury in Wistar rats.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is associated with considerable functional impairment. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has demonstrated positive effects regarding neuromuscular repair after PNI when applied locally to the nerve or injured muscle. However, the effects of systemic PBM with transcutaneous application over an important artery, which is also denominated vascular PBM (VPBM), remain unclear. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of VPBM with low-level laser (LLL) and light-emitting diode (LED) on gait, sensitivity and muscle morphology following a PNI. PNI was induced on Wistar rats using the sciatic nerve crushing technique. VPBM was performed over the rat's artery tail region with LED (850 nm, 40 mW, 3.2 J) and LLL (780 nm, 40 mW, 3.2 J). Gait functionality, mechanical (nociceptive) sensitivity, and morphology of the tibialis anterior muscle were evaluated at 7, 14, and 21 days after injury. An improvement in functional gait was shown in the VPBM-LLL group in all periods. Motor sensitivity was found after 14 days in the VPBM-LLL group. The left/right (L/R) muscle mass ratio revealed a reduction in muscle atrophy in the VPBM-LLL group at 7 days. Muscle fiber diameter increased in the VPBM-LED group at 14 days and increases in the cross-section area were found in the VPBM-LED and VPBM-LLL groups at 7 days. VPBM with both light sources (LED and LLL) positively modulated functioning and neuromuscular recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats, with more pronounced results when using LLL.

Protocol of a Nerve Neurotmesis Sciatic Repair using Polyvinyl Alcohol Biofilm in Wistar Rats / Protocolo de reparação de uma neurotmese do nervo ciático utilizando o biofilme de álcool polivinílico em ratos Wistar

Background Animal models are commonly used to assess the efficacy of new materials to be employed in the surgical repair of a nerve injury. However, there is no published surgical repair protocol for sciatic nerve neurotmesis in rats. Objective To produce and evaluate a protocol for the tubing technique using a polyvinyl alcohol biofilm after sciatic nerve neurotmesis. Methods Eighteen rats were randomized into 3 groups (n » 6 per group): control group - CG, neurotmesis group - NG, and neurotmesis biofilm group - NBG. The NG and NBGanimals were submitted to neurotmesis of the sciatic nerve at 60 days of life, followed by suture of the nerve stumps; in the NBG, the animals had the suture involved by polyvinyl alcohol biofilm. A descriptive evaluation of the surgical technique was performed after the experimental period. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test was used for body weight, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni posthoc (p < 0.05) was applied. Results All groups showed good repair of the skin and muscle sutures; however, 33.30% of the CG presented disruption of skin points. Furthermore, 16.70% of the stumps were not structurally aligned and 33.30% had neuromas in the NG, while in the NBG, all stumps were aligned and none of them had neuroma. Conclusions The present study was able to produce a protocol with high reproducibility in view of the mechanical stability, targeting of the nerve stumps, muscle healing, the low frequency of skin breakage and the low complexity level of the technique, and it can be used in future studies that aim to evaluate other biomaterials for nerve repair in rats.

Introdução Modelos animais são comumente utilizados para avaliar a eficácia de novos materiais a ser empregados no reparo cirúrgico de lesões nervosas. No entanto, não há protocolo de reparo cirúrgico publicado para neurotmese do nervo ciático em ratos. Objetivo Produzir e avaliar um protocolo para a técnica de tubulização usando um biofilme de álcool polivinílico após uma neurotmese do nervo ciático. Métodos Dezoito ratos foram randomizados em três grupos (n » 6 por grupo): grupo controle - GC, grupo neurotmese - GN e grupo neurotmese biofilme - GNB. Os animais do GN e do GNB foram submetidos à neurotmese do nervo ciático aos 60 dias de vida, seguida de sutura dos cotos do nervo; no GNB, os animais tiveram a sutura envolvida por biofilme de álcool polivinílico. Após o período experimental, foi realizada avaliação descritiva da técnica cirúrgica. Para o peso corporal, foi utilizado o teste de normalidade Shapiro-Wilk e aplicada a análise de variância (ANOVA) com posthoc de Bonferroni (p < 0,05). Resultados Todos os grupos apresentaram bom reparo de suturas de pele e musculares; porém, 33,30% do GC apresentou rompimento dos pontos da pele. Além disso, 16,70% dos cotos não estavam estruturalmente alinhados e 33,30% apresentavam neuromas no GN, enquanto todos os cotos estavam alinhados e nenhum apresentava neuroma no GNB. Conclusões O presente estudo foi capaz de produzir um protocolo com alta reprodutibilidade tendo em vista a estabilidade mecânica, direcionamento dos cotos nervosos, cicatrização muscular, a baixa frequência de rompimento da pele e o baixo nível de complexidade da técnica, podendo ser utilizado em estudos futuros que avaliem outros biomateriais para reparo de nervo em ratos.

The Time Course of MHC-I Expression in C57BL/6J and A/J Mice Correlates with the Degree of Retrograde Gliosis in the Spinal Cord following Sciatic Nerve Crush.

The pleiotropic role of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) reflects the close association between the nervous and immune systems. In turn, MHC-I upregulation postinjury is associated with a better regenerative outcome in isogenic mice following peripheral nerve damage. In the present work, we compared the time course of neuronal, glial, and sensorimotor recovery (1, 3, 5, 7, and 28 days after lesion­dal) following unilateral sciatic nerve crush in A/J and C57BL/6J mice. The A/J strain showed higher expression of MHC-I (7 dal, ** p < 0.01), Iba-1 (microglial reaction, 7 dal, *** p < 0.001), and GFAP (astrogliosis, 5 dal, * p < 0.05) than the C57BL/6J counterpart. Synaptic coverage (synaptophysin) was equivalent in both strains over time. In addition, mRNA expression of microdissected spinal motoneurons revealed an increase in cytoskeleton-associated molecules (cofilin, shp2, and crmp2, * p < 0.05), but not trkB, in C57BL/6J mice. Gait recovery, studied by the sciatic functional index, was faster in the A/J strain, despite the equivalent results of C57BL/6J at 28 days after injury. A similar recovery was also seen for the nociceptive threshold (von Frey test). Interestingly, when evaluating proprioceptive recovery, C57BL/6J animals showed an enlarged base of support, indicating abnormal ambulation postinjury. Overall, the present results reinforce the role of MHC-I expression in the plasticity of the nervous system following axotomy, which in turn correlates with the variable recovery capacity among strains of mice.

Anatomical Variations of the Sciatic Nerve Exit from the Pelvis and Its Relationship with the Piriformis Muscle: A Cadaveric Study.

BACKGROUND: The sciatic nerve (SN) is the widest nerve of the human body that exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, usually below the piriformis muscle (PM), and descends between the greater trochanter of the femur and ischial tuberosity of the pelvis to the knee. The aim of this paper is to examine and identify the SN variations in relation to the PM, its prevalence, pattern, and course. METHODS: A prospective-descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the frequency of anatomical variations in the exit of the SN in relation with the PM in 20 anatomical bodies (corpses) of both genders, in equal numbers. RESULTS: The dissection of 40 SNs in corpses of both sexes in equal numbers showed that the SN exited inferior to the PM in 37 lower limbs (92.5%); between the fascicles of the PM and inferior to the PM in two lower limbs (5%); and in one thigh, between the fascicles of the PM and superior to the PM (2.5%). Our study reported that the SN divides in its terminal branches more commonly in the proximal part of the popliteal fossa in 55% of cases, in the gluteal region in 35% of cases, and in the middle third of the thigh in 10% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical variations of the SN in relation to the PM are challenging for the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in many clinical and surgical cases. Rapid recognition of the SN changes makes surgical approaches more accurate and effective. Our study confirmed that the SN exits the pelvis most commonly below the PM, although some anatomical variations may occur.

Local effects of natural alkylamides from Acmella oleracea and synthetic isobutylalkyl amide on neuropathic and postoperative pain models in mice.

Neuropathic and postoperative pain are clinical conditions that impair the patient's quality of life. The current pharmacotherapy of both painful states is ineffective and accompanied by several side effects. In order to develop new therapeutics targets, the secondary metabolites of plants have been extensively studied. Acmella oleracea ("jambu") is a native plant from the Amazon region and rich in alkylamides, bioactive compounds responsible for inducing anesthetic and chemesthetic sensations. We previously demonstrated that the intraplantar administration of an hexanic fraction (HF) rich in alkylamides from jambu and the synthetic isobutylalkyl amide (IBA) at 0.1 µg/20 µL can promote antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the local effect of HF and IBA (0.1 µg/20 µL) on neuropathic (partial sciatic nerve ligation, PSNL) and postoperative pain (plantar incision surgery, PIS) models in mice. Seven days after the PSNL, the mechanical (von Frey test) and cold (acetone-evoked evaporative cooling) allodynia, and digital gait parameters were analyzed. The intraplantar HF and IBA treatments attenuated the mechanical and cold allodynia as well as the static (max. Contact and print area) and dynamic (stand duration) parameters of digital gait analyses. On the day after PIS, the mechanical allodynia, heat hyperalgesia (hot plate, 52 ± 0.1°C), and spontaneous nociception scores were evaluated. Topical treatment with HF reduced the mechanical allodynia, heat hyperalgesia, and spontaneous nociception scores. In contrast, IBA treatment only partially reduced the mechanical allodynia. In summary, the local treatment with HF was effective on both neuropathic and postoperative pain, as opposed to IBA, which only had an effect on neuropathic pain.

Raman spectroscopy and sciatic functional index (SFI) after low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model.

Axonotmesis causes sensorimotor and neurofunctional deficits, and its regeneration can occur slowly or not occur if not treated appropriately. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) promotes nerve regeneration with the proliferation of myelinating Schwann cells to recover the myelin sheath and the production of glycoproteins for endoneurium reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LLLT on sciatic nerve regeneration after compression injury by means of the sciatic functional index (SFI) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). For this, 64 Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to the length of treatment: 14 days (n = 32) and 21 days (n = 32). These two groups were subdivided into four sub-groups of eight animals each (control 1; control 2; laser 660 nm; laser 808 nm). All animals had surgical exposure to the sciatic nerve, and only control 1 did not suffer nerve damage. To cause the lesion in the sciatic nerve, compression was applied with a Kelly clamp for 6 s. The evaluation of sensory deficit was performed by the painful exteroceptive sensitivity (PES) and neuromotor tests by the SFI. Laser 660 nm and laser 808 nm sub-groups were irradiated daily (100 mW, 40 s, energy density of 133 J/cm2). The sciatic nerve segment was removed for RS analysis. The animals showed accentuated sensory and neurofunctional deficit after injury and their rehabilitation occurred more effectively in the sub-groups treated with 660 nm laser. Control 2 sub-group did not obtain functional recovery of gait. The RS identified sphingolipids (718, 1065, and 1440 cm-1) and collagen (700, 852, 1004, 1270, and 1660 cm-1) as biomolecular characteristics of sciatic nerves. Principal component analysis revealed important differences among sub-groups and a directly proportional correlation with SFI, mainly in the sub-group laser 660 nm treated for 21 days. In the axonotmesis-type lesion model presented herein, the 660 nm laser was more efficient in neurofunctional recovery, and the Raman spectra of lipid and protein properties were attributed to the basic biochemical composition of the sciatic nerve.

Fotobiomodulação com LED induz melhora na funcionalidade da marcha em ratos após lesão nervosa periférica / Photobiomodulation with LED increased the gait functionality in rats submitted to peripheral nerve injury

Introdução: As lesões nervosas periféricas (LNP) podem resultar em distúrbios motores e sensoriais alterando a funcionalidade do membro afetado, porém pouco se conhece a respeito dos efeitos da fotobiomodulação (FBM) com diodo emissor de luz (LED). Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos do LED sobre a funcionalidade da marcha de ratos Wistar pós LNP. Metodologia: Ratos Wistar foram submetidos a LNP por esmagamento de ciático e analisados nos seguintes grupos experimentais: (1) Controle; (2) LNP; (3) LNP+ LED (780 nm, potência média 40 mW, exposição radiante, energia por ponto, 3,2 J sobre o nervo ciático (LEDn); (4) LNP+ LED em nervo e região do músculo envolvido (LEDnm) e (5) LNP+ LED apenas em região do músculo (LEDm). Após 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias foram realizadas as análises de marcha utilizando o Índice Funcional Ciático (IFC). Resultado: Após 7 dias, os grupos tratados com LED apresentaram uma melhora da marcha em relação ao grupo Lesão, sendo essa melhora mais pronunciada no grupo LEDn. Após 14 dias, os grupos LEDn e LEDnm apresentaram valores semelhantes ao grupo controle e após 21 e 28 dias o IFC não apresentou diferenças entre os grupos experimentais. Conclusão: O LED aumentou a funcionalidade da marcha avaliada pelo IFC após 1 e 2 semanas pós LNP, especialmente quando foi usado na região nervosa associada ou não à região muscular.

Introduction: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) can result in motor and sensory disturbances altering the functionality of the affected limb, however not much is known about the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with light emitting diode (LED). Objective: We aimed to analyze the effects of LED on the gait function of Wistar rats after PNI. Methodology: Wistar rats were submitted to PNI by sciatic crush and analyzed in the following experimental groups: (1) Control; (2) PNI; (3) PNI+ LED (780 nm, mean power 40 mW, radiant exposure, energy per spot, 3.2 J on the sciatic nerve) (LEDn); (4) LNP+ LED on nerve and involved muscle region (LEDnm) and (5) LNP+ LED only on muscle region (LEDm). After 7-, 14-, 21- and 28-days gait analyses were performed using the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI). Results: After 7 days, the groups treated with LED showed an improvement in gait compared to the PNI group, with this improvement being more pronounced in the LEDn group. After 14 days, the LEDn and LEDnm groups showed similar values to the control group and after 21 and 28 days the SFI did not show differences between the experimental groups. Conclusion: LED increased the gait functionality evaluated by SFI after 1 and 2 weeks post-PNI, especially when it was used in the nerve region associated or not with the muscle region.