OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 in injured nerve. METHODS: Sciatic nerve injury model was established by transection of right side sciatic nerve in 90 male SD rats, which were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with electroacupuncture, no treatment in the control group. The distal part of the injured nerve was harvested after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks of operation and stored in the liquid nitrogen. The total RNA was extracted by the TRIzol reagent. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detected the mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of NGF in the experimental group was increased quickly from the second week, and reached to highest level in the fourth week. It was much higher than that of the control group (P lt; 0.05). Then it began to decline in following time and approximately reached to the level of the first week after 10 weeks of operation. The mRNA expression of IGF-1 in the experimental group was remarkably increased in the second and fourth week, and which was much higher than that of the control group respectively(P lt; 0.05). Although the mRNA expression of IGF-1 after 10 weeks of operation in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P gt; 0.05). There was linear correlation in the fourth week between mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 can be elevated in injured nerve at early stage interfered with electroacupuncture.
Objective To analysis the electrophysiological dominance weight of the triceps brachii muscle/extensordigitorum communis muscle innervated by brachial plexus and to conclude its effect on the ipsilateral C7 transfer so as to offer electrophysiological data for the safety and indication of i psilateral C7 transfer. Methods From August 2007 to October 2007, 15 patients with complete brachial plexus nerve root avulsion received contralateral C7 transfer. There were 13 males and 2 females aged 18-49 years (28 years on average). Injury was caused by fall ing in 1 case, by crush in 2 cases and by traffic accident in 12 cases, involving left side in 8 cases and right side in 7 cases. The upper, middle and lower trunk of the brachial plexus were stimulated respectively, the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) at the triceps brachii muscle/extensor digitorum communis muscle was recorded, and then the electrophysiological dominance weight of the triceps brachii muscle/extensor digitorum communis muscle innervated by brachial plexus was confirmed according to the comparison of the ampl itude percentage of the CMAP by three trunks. The muscle strength of triceps brachii muscle/extensor digitorum communis muscle was evaluated and the electromyogram was taken 6 months after operation. Results All patients were followed up for 6 months. Concerning the electrophysiological dominance weight, the triceps brachii muscle was mainly innervated by uppermiddle trunk in 3 cases (20%), by middle-lower trunk in 3 cases (20%), by whole trunk in 7 cases (47%) and by middle trunk in 2 cases (13%). While the extensor digitorum communis muscle was mainly innervated by middle-lower trunk in 3 cases (20%), by whole trunk in 10 cases (67%) and by lower trunk in 2 cases (13%). Concerning the triceps brachii muscle, 2 patients got the muscle strength of 4 grade with recruitment simple phase at 1 month after operation and returned to normal at 3 month after operation, while 13 patients got the muscle strength of 5 grade with recruitment simple or mixed phase at 1 month after operation. Concerning the extensor digitorum communis muscle, the muscle strength and the recruitment phase of all 15 patients recovered to normal at 1 month after operation. Conclusion To patients with various kinds of electrophysiological dominance weight, the cutting of C7 does not substantially damage the triceps brachii muscle or extensor digitorum communis muscle, indicating that the ipsilateral C7 transfer is safe and feasible. However, it should be appl ied prudently for the patients with high dominance weight since it may result in the short-term decrease of triceps brachii muscle strength.