Effects of different doses of X-ray radiation on nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in a rat model

Background: physical agents, such as ultrasound, can promote functionalrestoration and regenerative processes of the peripheral nervous system.however, little is known about the effects of x-ray radiation onnerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury. the aim of the present studywas to investigate the effects of various doses of x-ray radiation onnerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rats. materials and methods:the sciatic nerves of sprague-dawley rats were transected and repaired viaepineurium end-to-end neurorrhaphy. eighty rats each received single andlocal x-ray doses of 0 gy, 0.2 gy, 1 gy, 7 gy and 14 gy. functional andmorphological assessments of the process of nerve regeneration wereperformed by using various measurement tools. results: compared with the 0gy, 0.2 gy and 14 gy groups, the 1 gy and 7 gy radiation groups experiencedsignificantly increased sciatic functional index, motor nerve conductive velocity (mncv), expression of s-100, mean diameter of axons, and thickness of myelin sheaths and decreased perineural scar tissue. there were no differences between the 1 gy group and the 7 gy group or between the 0 gygroup, the 0.2 gy group and the 14 gy group with the exception of mncv and the expression level of s-100. conclusion: x-ray radiation in doses of 1 gy and 7 gy promoted nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in a rat model. the dose of 14 gy exerted inhibitory effects, and 0.2 gy exerted no significant effect on nerve regeneration.