Experimental study for treatment of low-intensity laser on neuropathic pain in diabetic rats

• Main Authors: Bo Chen, Hong Bao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editorial Board of Journal of Hainan Medical University 2019-09-01
• Series: Journal of Hainan Medical University
• Subjects: low-intensity laser; diabetic neuropathic pain; mechanical pain threshold; thermal pain threshold; nerve conduction velocity
• Online Access: http://www.hnykdxxb.com/PDF/201918/2.pdf

Objective: To systematically identify the therapeutic effects of low-intensity laser with 830 nm on diabetic neuropathic pain. Methods: Thirty male SPF Wistar rats were equally assigned to the blank control (Control), diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and diabetic neuropathic pain exposed to the laser treatment (DNP+Laser) groups. The rats in the DNP group and DNP+Laser group were subjected to intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin (STZ) to establish the diabetic animal model. The rats in the DNP+Laser group were exposed to laser stimulation (700 Hz, 60 mW) with 3 sessions per day and 50 s per session for overall 8 weeks. The paw mechanical pain threshold levels and thermal pain threshold levels were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks post the STZ administration, and the motor nerve conduction velocity and sensory nerve conduction velocity were also determined. Results: The rats in the DNP+EMF group showed significantly higher paw mechanical pain threshold levels and thermal pain threshold levels than the rats in the DNP group (P<0.05). Moreover, the motor nerve conduction velocity and sensory nerve conduction velocity in the DNP+Laser group were also significantly higher than those in the DNP group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Low-intensity laser stimulation displayed positive effects on the attenuation of the progression of neuropathic pain in diabetic rats, implying that low-intensity laser treatment has the potential to be an effective biophysical approach for diabetic neuropathic pain in clinics.