Electrically Mediated Trauma Repair.
Abstract
This paper addresses the role that a naturally produced ionic current plays in animal development and regeneration. Such steady currents and voltage gradients are produced by physiological batteries in the integument, the inner investments of bone, or the cell membrane. We have developed means to modify these currents in order to test their relevance to certain developmental (such as limb development) or regeneration (such as fracture repair and axonal elongation). We have concentrated on two areas: fracture repair and ways to electically modify it, and central nervous system regeneration - especially spinal cord regeneration. We have applied currents to intact bone and have found that we can grossly alter the shape - or more properly - alter the remodeling of hard tissue. Now we wish to test if such current can increase the rate of normal fracture repair. We have demonstrated that an applied electric field is able to induce the regeneration of axons of the dorsal columns in adult guinea pigs. This is the first demonstration of this kind in the literature, and one of only three extant techniques to induce linear elongation in long-tract central neurons. Moreover, our technique is non-invasive and does not require surgical manipulation of the spinal cord. Keywords: Bioelectricity; Wounds and injuries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA178513
Entities
People
- Richard B. Borgens
Organizations
- Purdue University