Electrical stimulation influences satellite cell differentiation after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats

Introduction: Electrical stimulation is often used to prevent muscle atrophy and preserve contractile function, but its effects on the satellite cell population after nerve injury are not well understood. In this study we aimed to determine whether satellite cell differentiation is affected by electrical stimulation after nerve crush. Methods: The sciatic nerves of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were crushed. Half of the injured rats received daily electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the others did not. Tests for detecting paired box protein 7 (Pax7), myogenic differentiation antigen (MyoD), embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMyHC), and force production were performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks after injury. Results: More Pax7+/MyoD+ nuclei in stimulated muscles were observed than in non-stimulated muscles. eMyHC expression was elevated in stimulated muscles and correlated positively with enhanced force production. Conclusions: Increased satellite cell differentiation is correlated with preserved muscle function in response to electrical stimulation after nerve injury. Muscle Nerve 51: 400–411, 2015