Effect of low-intensity millimeter-range electromagnetic irradiation on the recovery of function in lesioned sciatic nerves in rats.

The effects of electromagnetic irradiation (EMI) of wavelength 5.6 mm (frequency 53.57 GHz) and power density 4 mW/cm2 on the recovery of function in damaged rat sciatic nerve were studied; damage was produced by nerve section followed by microsuturing. Irradiation was applied to the skin of the thigh in the area of suturing. Total action potential (TAP) recording from the nerve was used to study the functional properties of regenerating nerve fibers five months after lesioning. These experiments demonstrated that EMI had a stimulatory effect on regenerative processes in the nerve, in terms of 25-30% increases in the rate of action potential conduction along nerve fibers, with increases in TAP amplitude.