5Hz electroacupuncture on the gastrocnemius muscle of the experimental rats after sciatic nerve injury

• 1、College of Acupuncture -Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300193

Abstract：Objective: To confirm the effect of 5Hz electroacupuncture on the experimental rats after sciatic nerve injury, to provide powerful experimental basis of the effect of electroacupuncture on sciatic nerve injury. Methods: 80 rats were divided into four groups, the normal group, the model group, the electroacupuncture treatment group and the mecobalamin treatment group, 20 rats in each group. The sciatic nerve crush injury model was used, the electroacupuncture treatment group were given the stimulation of 5Hz intermittent wave electroacupuncture while the mecobalamin treatment group were treated the mecobalamin by intragastric administration. After 1st, 2nd,7th and 28th days, the gastrocnemius muscle of the damage right hind legs was taken to measure the wet weight of gastrocnemius muscle, and to calculate the recovery rate of the wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle. The paraffin sections were prepared, the average diameter of the gastrocnemius muscle cells were calculated. Then observe the morphological change of gastrocnemius muscle, to monitor the change of the gastrocnemius muscle atrophy. Results: Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture and mecobalamin treatment group can both better the weight and the average diameter of gastrocnemius muscle in the damage right hind legs with p<0.05.Conclusions: 5Hz intermittent wave electroacupuncture can delay the progress of the gastrocnemius muscle atrophy.

Keywords： Acupuncture and Moxibustion sciatic nerve injury electroacupuncture treatment peripheral nerve injury