Early electrical field stimulation prevents the loss of spinal cord anterior horn motoneurons and muscle atrophy following spinal cord injury

Our previous study revealed that early application of electrical field stimulation（EFS） with the anode at the lesion and the cathode distal to the lesion reduced injury potential, inhibited secondary injury and was neuroprotective in the dorsal corticospinal tract after spinal cord injury（SCI）. The objective of this study was to further evaluate the effect of EFS on protection of anterior horn motoneurons and their target musculature after SCI and its mechanism. Rats were randomized into three equal groups. The EFS group received EFS for 30 minutes immediately after injury at T_（10）. SCI group rats were only subjected to SCI and sham group rats were only subjected to laminectomy. Luxol fast blue staining demonstrated that spinal cord tissue in the injury center was better protected; cross-sectional area and perimeter of injured tissue were significantly smaller in the EFS group than in the SCI group. Immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy showed that the number of spinal cord anterior horn motoneurons was greater and the number of abnormal neurons reduced in the EFS group compared with the SCI group. Wet weight and cross-sectional area of vastus lateralis muscles were smaller in the SCI group to in the sham group. However, EFS improved muscle atrophy and behavioral examination showed that EFS significantly increased the angle in the inclined plane test and Tarlov＇s motor grading score. The above results confirm that early EFS can effectively impede spinal cord anterior horn motoneuron loss, promote motor function recovery and reduce muscle atrophy in rats after SCI.

Electroacupuncture promotes the recovery of motor neuron function in the anterior horn of the injured spinal cord

Acupuncture has been shown to lessen the inflammatory reaction after acute spinal cord injury and reduce secondary injury.However,the mechanism of action remains unclear.In this study,a rat model of spinal cord injury was established by compressing the T8-9 segments using a modified Nystrom method.Twenty-four hours after injury,Zusanli（ST36）,Xuanzhong（GB39）,Futu（ST32）and Sanyinjiao（SP6）were stimulated with electroacupuncture.Rats with spinal cord injury alone were used as controls.At 2,4 and 6 weeks after injury,acetylcholinesterase（ACh E）activity at the site of injury,the number of medium and large neurons in the spinal cord anterior horn,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor（GDNF）m RNA expression,and Basso,Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores were greater in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group.These results demonstrate that electroacupuncture increases ACh E activity,up-regulates GDNF m RNA expression,and promotes the recovery of motor neuron function in the anterior horn after spinal cord injury.

Neuroprotective effects of the immunomodulatory drug Setarud on cerebral ischemia in male rats

immunomodulary drug Setarud, which is composed of herbal extracts including Rosa canina, Urtica dioica and Tanacetum vulgare, supplemented with selenium exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that Setarud will have a neuroprotective effect against ischemic cerebral injury. To validate this hypothesis, rats were intraperitoneally administered with 0.66 mL/kg Setarud for 30 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining showed that Setarud could reduce cerebral infarct volume of rats subjected to cerebral ischemia. Transmission electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that Setarud could alleviate the degenerative changes in cortical neurons of rats with cerebral ischemia. The inclined plate test and prehensile test showed that Setarud could significantly improve the motor function of rats with cerebral ischemia. These findings suggest that Setarud shows neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury.

Physical,Thermal and Partial Discharge Evaluation of Nano Alumina Filled Silicone Rubber in an Inclined Plane Test

Silicone rubber(SiR)composite material is a modern-day insulator for high voltage outdoor applications.The imperfection attributed to SiR is its weak resistance to tracking and erosion when exposed to an outdoor polluted environment which reduces its operational lifetime.This paper investigates the performance of SiR with the addition of 0,1,2.5,5,10 and 20%by weight contents of nano alumina(Al_(2)O_(3)).Inclined plane tests are performed according to IEC 60587 using the step up tracking voltage method with an initial voltage of 3.0 kV and the contaminant solution flow rate is maintained at 0.3 ml/min using a peristaltic pump.The applied voltage level is increased at a rate of 0.25 kV/h.Results suggest that physical tracking,erosion,RMS leakage current and surface partial discharge(PD)performance of samples is improved with the addition of nano alumina.The tracking length,eroded mass,RMS leakage current and average PD magnitude are measured 22%,79%,30%and 52%lesser in 20 wt%relative to 0 wt%,respectively.A thermal distribution analysis is undertaken with infrared camera and it is discovered that heat is accumulated in the discharge area of the liquid flow.The maximum temperature on the insulating specimen is decreased with increasing nanofiller contents.The above promising findings can be due to better thermal stability with low chain mobility at the interaction zone of SiR and alumina.Moreover,less liquid evaporation due to better thermal conduction and improved physical bonding between SiR and nano alumina are possible reasons behind the excellent performance of nanocomposites.