Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of ultrashort wave therapy on motor conduction velocity (MCV) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with sciatic nerve injury.MethodsThe models of peripheral nerve injury were established by forceps clip of sciatic nerve and then a total of 60 SD rats were divided randomly into three groups, including experimental group (n=24), control group (n=24) and sham operation group(n=12). The rats of experimental group were treated by ultrashort wave therapy after operation. The injured sciatic nerve and spinal cord in waist were sampled at the 1st，2nd，4th，6th week respectively after operation and were observed by electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry.ResultsAfter operation，the MCV of sciatic nerve in both experimental group rats and control group rats is zero in 1st week. Since 2nd week，the MCV of sciatic nerve in rats of both two groups began to arise and the MCV of injuried sciatic nerve in rats of experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). In injured spinal cord motoneuron，the Integrated Optical Density(IOD) of VEGF in experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionUltrashort wave therapy could increase the value of MCV of sciatic nerve and the expression of VEGF in spinal cord in rats,and so it could protect the injured peripheral nerve.

Key words: ultrashort wave, sciatic nerve injury, motor conduction velocity(MCV), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)