Studies of Electrically Stimulated Rat Limb and Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

摘要

This report covers research into the stimulated regeneration of subadult rat limbs and peripheral nerves. Regeneration of limbs was stimulated by implants of direct current devices delivering 10 to the minus 6th power A/sq mm, by pulsed magnetic fields delivered as short trains of asymmetric pulses repeating at 15 Hz, and by a combination of the two. Direct current fields produced significant amounts of new tissue organized into proximo-distal groupings reminiscent of carpal elements. PMF produced large amounts of new tissue, chiefly muscle. Peripheral nerve regeneration was also elicited by the implantation of D.C. devices (galvanic) and by PMF. Both methods produced significantly improved nerve regeneration. Several new techniques for stimulation and for evaluation of the response have been developed, but for this report, integrated monophasic compound action potentials (IMCAPS) were the chief means of evaluation. Improvements in regeneration oI the order of 20% were found.