The present study aimed to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on cell activity, cell cycle and apoptosis in injured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells induced by cyclic mechanical stretching (CMS). The present study also investigated whether the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway is involved in this process. Injury and ES models were established in DRG cells. Then, cell activity was detected using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 and 5‑ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine‑594 cell proliferation assay kit. Cell cycle distribution was detected using a cell cycle detection kit. Apoptosis was detected using an Annexin V‑FITC apoptosis detection kit, and Wnt/β‑catenin pathway‑associated proteins were detected using western blotting. The present study demonstrated that CMS decreased DRG cell activity, increased the number of cells in the S phase, promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway. In addition, ES significantly increased the proliferation activity of DRG cells, increased the number of cells in the G2 phase, decreased the apoptotic rate and activated the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway, ultimately reversing the injury caused by CMS. Following inhibition of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway using XAV939, the effects of ES were weakened. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that ES may reverse CMS‑induced injury in DRG cells, and that the Wnt signaling pathway may be involved in this process.
Keywords: electrical stimulation; dorsal root ganglion cells; peripheral nerve injury; Wnt/β-catenin pathway.