Comparation between low and high frequencies of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in pregnancy of albine rats

• Grant number: 09/09179-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2009
• End date: November 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Aparecida Casarotto
• Grantee: Raquel Aparecida Casarotto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is an analgesic modality therapy, non-invasive and does not present interaction with drugs. It is defined as any stimulation device that emits electrical currents through the intact skin surface. It is used for the symptomatic management of acute or chronic pain of benign origin in places of health care by physiotherapists. Objectives: To assess the effects of low and high frequencies of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on the pregnant abdomen of albine female rats over the pregnancy period. Methods: Thirty pregnant rats, weighting between 200 to 280 grams, from EPM - 1 Wistar lineage were randomly divided in three groups (n=10): Placebo group (P), in which the animals were submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment with the device power off, for 20 minutes, from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy; Low Frequency Experimental group (LF), in which the animals will be submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment, for 20 minutes, from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy and the device will be previously set up with the following parameters: low frequency 5 Hertz, 200 microseconds pulse length and the sensorial intensity will be considered from 2.0 milliamperes and up, High Frequency Experimental group (HF), in which the animals will be submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment for 20 minutes from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy and the device will be set up with the following parameters: high frequency 150 Hertz, 80 microseconds pulse length and the sensorial intensity will be considered from 2.0 milliamperes and up. The rats will be weighted on day zero, 7th, 14th and 20th days in order to check the weekly pondered weight gain. On the 20th day the rats of the P, LF and HF groups will be anesthetized with xylazine and ketamine with a dosage of 0.1 mg/kg and 0,2 mg/kg, respectively. After that the rats will be sacrificed in order to check the number of implantations, reabsorptions, fetus, placentas and major and external fetal malformations. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

YOKOYAMA, L. M.; PIRES, L. A.; GONCALVES FERREIRA, E. A.; CASAROTTO, R. A.. Low- and high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation have no deleterious or teratogenic effects on pregnant mice. PHYSIOTHERAPY, v. 101, n. 2, p. 214-218, JUN 2015. (09/09179-8)