The Time Course Effects of Electroacupuncture on Promoting Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Inhibiting Excessive Fibrosis after Contusion in Rabbits

Figure 2

BBHistological analysis of the four groups at different time points after contusion was visualized by HE staining (×200) (a). A comparison of the number (b) and diameter (c) of regenerative myofibers in the different groups on days 7, 14, and 28 after contusion. The cytoplasm of regenerative myofibers was apparently basophilic, and more nuclei were located in the central area. In the contusion group, regenerative myofibers were surrounded by a mass of collagen fibers with small diameter. On day 7 in the EA group, the regeneration was stronger than that in the contusion group, but in the rhIGF-I group, the diameter of regenerative myofibers was wider than that in the normal group on day 28. In the contusion group, the number and diameter of regenerative myofibers were less than those of the normal group. The number in the EA group was markedly more than the contusion and rhIGF-I groups (𝑃<0.01 or 𝑃<0.05). The diameter of fibers in the EA group was wider than that in the contusion group (𝑃<0.01) but narrower than that in the rhIGF-I group (𝑃<0.01). Contusion versus normal, ^★𝑃<0.05, ^★★𝑃<0.01; EA versus contusion, ^#𝑃<0.05, ^##𝑃<0.01; and EA versus rhIGF-I, ^▴𝑃<0.05, ^▴▴𝑃<0.01 (𝑛=5).

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(b)

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