| Abstract | | In the present dissertation we studied the influence of the weak interrupted sinusoidal low frequency electromagnetic field on the nerve and functional recovery following injury to the rat sciatic nerve. To reach the aims of investigation we carried out two studies. The intention of the first study (24 animals, 2 groups) was to develop so called video analysis of standing, or a new alternative method of footprint analysis to assess functional loss after sciatic nerve injuries in rats, and to establish static sciatic index SSI as a measure of functional loss under such conditions. A new method was assessed, comparing it with the well known ink track method during walking. Repeatability of the particular footprint parameter measurements and accuracy of the functional loss assessment were also compared for both methods. We found that our video analysis of standing is technically easier to perform than the corresponding footprint video analysis during walking, but still preserves all advantages of video versus conventional ink track method, i.e. there are few non-measurable footprints, better repeatability, high accuracy and more precise quantification of the degree of functional loss. In the second extended study (72 animals, 5 groups) we used both mentioned methods, together with the simplified variety of the video analysis, to find possible influences of the weak electromagnetic fields on functional recovery after different kinds of sciatic nerve injuries in rats. The use of several models and methods simultaneously would not increase only the possibility of detection of such influences, but also enable comparions of their acciracy, sensitivity and practical usefulness. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
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