Evaluation of Hydrogen Sulfide for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Neuromuscular Recovery Following Traumatic Neurovascular Injury in Rats
Abstract
Traumatic injury to peripheral nerves is a common clinical problem affecting the warfighter due to combat-related injuries. Blast, penetrative and blunt force injuries are also accompanied by severe neurovascular, musculoskeletal, and pulmonary injuries as a result of ischemia-reperfusion. Neurovascular injuries can result in the loss of neuromuscular function and chronic pain leading to substantial disability. Currently, the gold standard for preserving extremities is reinstitution of blood flow. In resource limited environments, immediate blood loss replacement is not always feasible thereby increasing the ischemic insult to the extremity via tourniquet use. The restoration of blood flow to ischemic tissue exacerbates the damage which can lead to long term injury to the warfighter and decreases their chance for survival. Ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IRI) are often accompanied by peripheral nerve injuries that cause long term injury and disability to the warfighter, thus leading to poor quality of life and a burden of health care costs. Current treatments for peripheral nerve injuries due to combat-related injuries remain limited and have significant room for improvement. Previous studies in in vitro systems and mammalian models indicate the biologic, Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), as a potential therapeutic to preserve neuromuscular function and promote nerve and muscle regeneration following traumatic injury. This study aimed to develop a rat model of IRI of the left hindlimb to evaluate the efficacy of H2S in peripheral nerve regeneration and neuromuscular function. Validation of the IRI rat model was assessed via gait analysis, electrophysiological measurements, fluorescent imaging, and histological studies. Future work will use the developed rat model to test the hypothesis that hydrogen sulfide promotes peripheral nerve regeneration and preserves neuromuscular function following ischemia-reperfusion injury of the peripheral nerves in rats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 24, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1228154
Entities
People
- Breanna Estrada
- Mylea A. Cristner
- Shauna Hill
- Thomas J. Percival
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing