Ischemic and Reperfusion Injury of Adult Rat Sciatic Nerve

Ischemia plays a major role in development of pathological changes in various neuropathies. Reperfusion amplifies physiological and pathological abnormalities in ischemic nerves. In this research, we studied ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury of sciatic nerve up to 14 days of reperfusion. IR was produced by ligation and release of nooses around supplying vessels to the sciatic nerve. 30 rats were assigned into 5 groups of 6. Group 1 (control) did not undergo IR while the 4 remaining groups after three hours of complete hind leg ischemia underwent reperfusion within 0hr, 3hrs, 7 days and 14 days. Pathologically, two phases were identifiable. During phase 1 (0- 3 hrs) fiber degeneration and endoneurial edema were observed. During phase 2 (7 days and, 14 days) prominent fiber degeneration and prominent endoneurial edema were observed. Loss of function occurred in move than 75% of the rats with ischemia alone, in comparison with the control group the maximum reduction in activities was observed amongest the group of rats reperfused within 3 hours. IR injury depends on duration of reperfusion. Microvascular events during reperfusion may enhance the nerve fiber damage following the ischemia period.