Expressão de neurotrofinas e avaliação histomorfométrica em ratos Wistar submetidos à mobilização neural após compressão do nervo mediano

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the neurotrophin mRNA expression and axon count in the median nerve of Wistar rats submitted to neural mobilization (NM) after nerve compression. MethodsEighteen animals were randomly divided into G1 (nerve compression only), G2 (NM for 1minute), and G3 (NM for 3minutes). For NM, the animals were anesthetized and the right scapula received the mobilization, adapted as indicated for humans, on alternate days, from the third to the 13th postoperative (PO) day, totaling six days of therapy. On the 14th PO day, animals were anesthetized and euthanized. Fragments of the median nerve, distal to the compression procedure, were removed for histomorphometric analysis and expression of neurotrophins, nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by RT‐PCR. ResultsHistomorphometric analysis revealed differences in the number of axons in the injured side, which was significantly lower in the injured limb nerve compared to the control limb, whereas the RT‐PCR analysis showed no significant differences in the expression of NGF or BDNF. ConclusionNM treatment did not affect median nerve regeneration, which maintained normal recovery rates.