Method: Thirty-seven male Wistar rats (age 12 weeks) were randomly allocated into five groups: (1) Control Group (CG, n = 5); Experimental Groups treated with vein graft (2) without Fat Tissue (EG, n = 8); (3) with Fat (EGF, n = 8); (4) without Fat and with Laser Therapy (EGL, n = 8); (5) with Fat and Laser Therapy (EGFL, n = 8). In the experimental groups a gap (
Result: The use of vein graft with fat and/or the laser application lead a significant better nerve regeneration, considering the fiber area and diameter, myelin sheath area and thickness parameters, compared to the treatment with vein graft only. The association between the vein graft with fat and the laser application enhanced the regeneration for all parameters (including also axon diameter and area). The treatment EGFL significantly enhanced in 2-fold and about 3-fold the fiber diameter (6.94±0.43 µm2) and the myelin thickness (4.04±0.37 µm2) compared to EG (3.43±0.37 and 1.45±0.22 µm2, respectively).
Conclusion: The use of the vein graft fulfilled with fat tissue and the Low-Power Laser application enhance the nerve regenerative processes.
Keywords: Anatomy, Central nervous system/peripheral nervous system, Lasers and Regeneration