HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN TREATMENT ENHANCES REGENERATION OF THE RAT SCIATIC-NERVE

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve was studied. The sciatic nerve was crushed with a p air of pliers and the animals were either left untreated or subjected to a series of 45-min exposures to 100% O-2 at 3.3 atm absolute pressu re at 0, 4, and 8 h postoperatively and then every 8 h. Regeneration w as evaluated using the pinch-reflex test at 3, 4, or 5 days following surgery and with neurofilament staining at 4 days. The regeneration di stances at all time points were significantly longer in animals expose d to hyperbaric oxygen treatment independent of the evaluation procedu re. A short initial period of the same HBO treatment schedule, with no more treatments after 25 h, appeared as effective as when treatments were maintained being given every 8 h until evaluation. We conclude th at HBO treatment stimulates axonal outgrowth following a nerve crush l esion. (C) 1998 Academic Press.