The Effect of Microcurrent Stimulation on Histological Structure of Wound in Rat

미세전류전기자극이 흰쥐 창상의 조직학적 구조에 미치는 영향

  • Oh, Hye-Jin (Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Seonam University) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Woo (Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Seonam University) ;
  • Kim, Moon-Su (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seonam University) ;
  • Park, Jang-Sung (Department of Physical Therapy, Seonam University)
  • 오혜진 (서남대학교 대학원) ;
  • 김정우 (서남대학교 의과대학 해부학교실) ;
  • 김문수 (서남대학교 의료공학과) ;
  • 박장성 (서남대학교 물리치료학과)
  • Published : 2008.03.25

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the intensity of microcurrent stimulation (with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$ using a pulse frequency of 5 pps) on wound healing in rats. Methods: Sixty male Korean rats were randomly divided into four groups of 15 rats that were subjected to four different treatment protocols (control group, no treatment; experimental groups, treated with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ or 300 ${\mu}A$). An experimental 20 mm linear wound was made in each animal and all animals in the experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation once a day for 20 minutes until the day of sacrifice on day 1, day 3 and day 6. An optical microscope was used to determine any histological changes. Results: The experimental results were as follows. 1. In an examination with the naked eye, all groups showed similar changes until the first day. However, from the third day, a little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region in the control group rats. In the experimental group animals, little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region, and swelling and redness did not appear, from the third day. 2. In an examination with histological evaluation, more significant changes were observed in all of the experimental group rats than the control group animals. Especially, a stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ caused a more significant effect than the use of the other intensities by day 6 of wound healing. In addition, rapid recovery was observed. Conclusion: It was determined that microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on wound healing. A stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ was more effective than the other intensities (100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$) utilized for wound healing. Furthermore, low-intensity microcurrent stimulation was more effective for the purpose of wound healing.

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