| Peripheral nerve disorders are the most common neurological problems; therefore, it is important to intervene to
treat or stop the resulting side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oat extract on experimental
sciatic nerve injury in rats. Totally, 50 adult male rats were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 was
exposed to sham condition, and group 2 was regarded as the control group (nerve injury without treatment).
Moreover, groups 3-5 were subjected to sciatic nerve injury, and they received oral gavages of the oat extract
(100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), respectively. Subsequently, 2 and 4 weeks later, the rats were euthanized for
pathological evaluation of nerve repair. The results showed an increase in the formation of the perineurium and
epineurium dose in the oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control group after 2
weeks (P<0.05). Furthermore, the presence of inflammatory cells in the oat extract-treated groups (100, 200, and
400 mg/kg) decreased, compared to that in the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.05). In addition, the swelling of
the axon significantly decreased in the oat extract-treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control
group (P<0.05). However, the axon dose-dependently increased in oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400
mg/kg), compared to that in the control group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). These results suggest that oat extract has
positive effects on sciatic nerve repair in rats. |