Effects of Photobiomodulation on Functionality in Wistar Rats with Sciatic Nerve Injury

• Published in: Photochemistry and photobiology Vol. 95; no. 3; pp. 879 - 885
• Main Authors: Andreo, Lucas, Soldera, Carla A., Ribeiro, Beatriz Guimarães, Matos, Patrick Raoul Vicente, Sousa, Paola Bindes, Amorim, Weslley Wallace, Horliana, Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini, Bussadori, Sandra Kalil, Fernandes, Kristianne Porta Santos, Mesquita‐Ferrari, Raquel Agnelli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2019
• Subjects: Animals; Atrophy; Disease Models, Animal; Gait; Injury analysis; Injury prevention; Irradiation; Light therapy; Low-Level Light Therapy; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscles; Organ Size; Pain perception; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - physiopathology; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - therapy; Peripheral nerves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; Sciatic nerve; Sciatic Nerve - injuries; Sensitivity; Sensitivity analysis; Skeletal muscle; Tibialis anterior muscle
• ISSN: 0031-8655; 1751-1097
• DOI: 10.1111/php.13048

A peripheral nerve injury (PNI) can result in motor or sensory disorders. Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) has demonstrated positive results as a treatment option for PNI. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, Injury, Injury + LLLTn (nerve), Injury + LLLTm (muscle) and Injury + LLLTn + m (nerve and muscle irradiation). The groups were analyzed after one, two, three and four weeks. PNI was achieved by crushing the sciatic nerve. Laser treatment (780 nm, 3.2 J) was realized over the nerve and/or tibialis anterior muscle. In gait analyses, the groups irradiated over the nerve demonstrated an improvement after two weeks. In the analysis of mechanical sensitivity, the Injury + LLLTn demonstrated a reduction after one week in comparison with Injury group; the Injury + LLLTn + m and Injury + LLLTm demonstrated an increase after two weeks in comparison with Injury group; and the irradiated groups demonstrated a reduction in nociception after four weeks in comparison with Injury group. In the analysis of muscle atrophy, the Injury + LLLTn demonstrated more muscle mass after two weeks. LLLT improves functional aspects related to gait, mechanical sensitivity and muscle mass, with better results regarding motor aspects and muscle mass when administered over the injured nerve and better results regarding sensory aspects when administered over the muscle.
A peripheral nerve injury (PNI) can result in motor or sensory disorders. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, Injury, Injury + LLLTn (nerve), Injury + LLLTm (muscle) and Injury + LLLTn + m (nerve and muscle irradiation). PNI was achieved by crushing the sciatic nerve and the animals were irradiated with low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) (780 nm, 3.2 J). Conclusion: LLLT improve functional aspects related to gait, mechanical sensitivity and muscle mass, with better results regarding motor aspects and muscle mass when administered over the injured nerve and better results regarding sensory aspects when administered over the muscle.