Efficacy of 810 nm low-level laser therapy on muscle regeneration after bupivacaine-induced myonecrosis in a rabbit model.

Authors

M Talal Sadeldin, Omar Hamadah, Anas Abdo, Lana Sayal, Amirah Alnour

Published in

Lasers in medical science. Volume 41. Issue 1. Aug 11, 2026. Epub Aug 11, 2026.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle tissue has considerable regenerative capacity following injury; yet, this process may be gradual and constrained. Bupivacaine, a local anaesthetic, serves as a model for inducing muscle damage in experimental research. Low-level laser treatment (LLLT), also referred to as photobiomodulation (PBM) has demonstrated considerable efficacy in promoting the healing of skeletal muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT (810 nm) on skeletal muscle regeneration following bupivacaine-induced myonecrosis in a rabbit model. This study was structured as a controlled experimental trial with 16 test subjects, uniformly allocated into groups. Bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.5% was administered locally to produce skeletal muscle damage. The experimental groups subsequently had low-level laser therapy (LLLT) at a wavelength of 810 nanometers, according to standardized protocols. Gastrocnemius muscle samples were collected for histological examination and hematoxylin-eosin staining to evaluate the stages of healing and to measure the extent of degeneration in skeletal muscle tissue by analysing creatine kinase (CK) protein levels. Bupivacaine injection resulted in significant muscle fiber degeneration, inflammation, and elevated serum CK levels. Compared to the bupivacaine-only groups, LLLT-treated animals showed significantly lower dystrophy scores (p=0.039), reduced inflammatory infiltration at day 6 (p=0.011), and substantially lower CK levels at both 3 days (1560 ± 722 vs 4500 ± 1733 IU/L) and 6 days (1090 ± 383 vs 3043 ± 1047 IU/L) (p<0.05). Centrally located myonuclei, a marker of active regeneration, were observed only in the LLLT group at the 6-day time point (approximately 28% of fibers). The current findings suggest that LLLT at 810 nm may accelerate histological recovery and attenuate muscle damage markers following bupivacaine-induced myonecrosis in rabbits. Further large-scale studies incorporating molecular and immunohistochemical analyses are warranted to confirm these results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

PMID:
42579184
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Aug 2026.

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