경피신경전기자극과 전침자극이 흰쥐 좌골신경 압좌손상 후 척수내 c-fos 발현과 기능회복에 미치는 영향

Abstract

본 연구는 흰쥐를 대상으로 좌골신경 압좌 손상 유발 후 경피신경전기자극과 전침자극을 적용하고 진통효과와 기능회복에 미치는 영향을 알아보았다. 실험동물은 경피신경전기자극군을 적용한 TENS군, 전침자극군을 적용한 EA군과 대조군으로 구분하였고, 각각의 군은 전기자극 적용기간에 따라 1일군, 7일군 및 14일군으로 나누었다. 경피신경자극과 전침자극을 적용한 결과, 실험군에서 대조군에 비하여 통각신경활성의 지표로 이용되는 c-fos 발현의 감소, 발도피지연시의 증가, 좌골신경기능지수의 증가를 통해 전기자극이 말초신경 손상에서 통증억제와 기능회복을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 하지만 경피신경전기자극군과 전침자극군간의 유의한 차이는 관찰되지 않았다. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and electroacupuncture(EA) after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Subjects were classified TENS group with TENS application, EA group with EA application and Control group which is not applicated electrical stimulation. TENS and EA stimulations were applied post-injury day(PD) 1 to 14 after sciatic nerve injury. This study observed c-fos expression in rat lumbar spinal cord. In addition, the paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and sciatic function index(SFI) were measured. The results were as follows: At PD 1, control group had higher c-fos immunoreactivity than experimental groups. At PD 7 and 14, control group had higher c-fos immunoreactivity than experimental groups. The PWL of experimental groups were significantly lower than control group. The SFI had not significant difference in all groups. But the average of experimental groups were higher than control group. These results suggest that TENS and EA applications increasing sensory and motor nerve recovery while decreasing c-fos immunoreactivity after sciatic nerve crush injury.