Fibrin, derived from the blood protein fibrinogen, is deposited in the sciatic nerve after injury and retards functional regeneration. Since Schwann cell migration is critical for remyelination of injured nerves, we investigated the effects of fibrin in this process. In vivo experiments showed that fibrin co-localizes with fibronectin deposition in the injured sciatic nerve. In vitro migration ...

The underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain are poorly understood, and existing treatments are mostly ineffective. We recently demonstrated that antisense mediated "knock-down" of the sodium channel isoform, Na(V)1.8, reverses neuropathic pain behavior after L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL), implicating a critical functional role of Na(V)1.8 in the neuropathic state. Here we have investigate...

BACKGROUND Chronic pain is often accompanied by short-term memory deficit and depression. Currently, it is believed that short-term memory deficit and depression are consequences of chronic pain. Here, we test the hypothesis that the symptoms might be caused by overproduction of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the injured nerve independent of neuropathic pain following spared nerve injury in rats ...

Neuropathic pain is often "spontaneous" or "stimulus-independent." Such pain may result from spontaneous discharge in primary afferent nociceptors in injured peripheral nerves. However, whether axotomized primary afferent nociceptors give rise to pain is unclear. The rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) mediates the negative affective component of inflammatory pain. Whether the rACC integra...

BACKGROUND Walking track analysis which has been widely used to examine the recovery of gait functions in rats with sciatic nerve injury. PURPOSE The present study was aimed to objectively analyze and quantify the degree of functional recovery in locomotor behavior of rats after inflicting sciatic nerve crush injury. METHODS Wistar rats trained on various runways, viz., narrow beam, grid an...

Sciatic functional index (SFI) as a behavioral method was used to assess the functional recovery following experimentally-induced various injuries in the sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. In the present study, the functional recovery after induction of injury in the sciatic nerve was investigated in rats using SFI. Twenty-four rats were divided into three groups including sham-operated (SS...

The present study investigated the fate of macrophages in peripheral nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration, especially their disappearance from the injured nerves after phagocytosis of axonal and myelin debris. Wallerian degeneration was induced in adult male C57Bl/6 mice by transecting the right sciatic nerve. Five days after transection, the male sciatic nerves were transplanted into femal...

Introduction: The slump test is used in athletes with suspected hamstring strains to determine the presence of neural mechanosensitivity. Other than cadaveric investigations, limited evidence exists regarding this test with respect to the neuromuscular system. Aim: To examine the effect of the slump test on local muscular and neural structures in the posterior thigh in athletes with hamstring i...

Sciatic functional index (SFI) as a behavioral method was used to assess the functional recovery following experimentally-induced various injuries in the sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. In the present study, the functional recovery after induction of injury in the sciatic nerve was investigated in rats using SFI. Twenty-four rats were divided into three groups including sham-operated (SS...