Properties of the tibialis anterior muscle after treatment with laser therapy and natural latex protein following sciatic nerve crush

ABSTRACT Introduction: In this study we evaluated the characteristics of the tibialis anterior muscle after sciatic nerve crush and treatment with low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) or the protein from natural latex (P1). Methods: We studied the following 6 groups of male Wistar rats: control (CG); exposed nerve (EG); injured nerve (IG); injured nerve with LLLT (LG); injured nerve with P1 (PG); and injured nerve with P1 and LLLT (LPG). Results: After 4 weeks, muscle morphology showed improvement in the treated groups; after 8 weeks, the treated groups resembled controls, especially the PG. Morphometry revealed muscle fiber atrophy after nerve injury, with time‐dependent recovery. Histochemical analysis revealed increased intermediate fiber area. The PG was more similar to controls with NADH staining, whereas the LPG more closely resembled controls with SDH staining. Conclusion: Treatment using only P1 proved most efficient, revealing a negative interaction between P1 and LLLT. Muscle Nerve 52: 869–875, 2015