Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Cedera nervus ischiadicus dapat menyebabkan gangguan fungsi motorik dan atrofi otot akibat denervasi. Sel punca mesenkimal tali pusat (SPM-TP) berpotensi mendukung proses regenerasi saraf dan jaringan otot. Penelitian ini bertujuan menilai pengaruh pemberian SPM-TP terhadap fungsi motorik ekstremitas posterior yang dinilai menggunakan Extensor Postural Thrust (EPT) serta terhadap kondisi otot gastrocnemius yang dinilai menggunakan Gastrocnemius Muscle Index (GMI) pada tikus putih (Rattus norvegicus) galur Wistar pasca cedera nervus ischiadicus.
Penelitian ini merupakan studi eksperimental dengan rancangan post-test only control group design. Tiga puluh ekor tikus dibagi menjadi tiga kelompok, yaitu kelompok kontrol sehat (n = 10), kelompok cedera saraf yang diberikan salin 0,9% (n = 9), dan kelompok cedera saraf yang diberikan SPM-TP (n = 10). Pemeriksaan EPT dan GMI dilakukan pada akhir periode observasi. Analisis statistik menggunakan uji one-way ANOVA untuk EPT dan uji Kruskal–Wallis untuk GMI, dilanjutkan uji Mann–Whitney.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbedaan bermakna nilai EPT antar kelompok (p = 0,160), meskipun kelompok SPM-TP menunjukkan rerata EPT lebih rendah (−17,90 ± 39,02) dibandingkan kelompok salin (14,65 ± 34,47). Sebaliknya, terdapat perbedaan bermakna nilai GMI antar kelompok (p = 0,012), dengan nilai median GMI kelompok SPM-TP lebih tinggi [109,75 (82,81–143,88)] dibandingkan kelompok salin [81,68 (61,22–104,56)], dan perbedaan ini tetap signifikan pada uji lanjut (p = 0,003).
Disimpulkan bahwa pemberian SPM-TP memberikan efek signifikan terhadap pemulihan struktur otot gastrocnemius, namun belum menunjukkan perbaikan fungsi motorik ekstremitas posterior yang bermakna berdasarkan uji EPT pada fase awal pasca cedera nervus ischiadicus.
Kata kunci: sel punca mesenkimal, nervus ischiadicus, Extensor Postural Thrust, Gastrocnemius Muscle Index

Sciatic nerve injury can lead to motor dysfunction and muscle atrophy due to denervation. Umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have regenerative potential; however, their effects on functional and structural recovery after peripheral nerve injury remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of UC-MSCs on posterior limb motor function assessed by the Extensor Postural Thrust (EPT) test and on gastrocnemius muscle condition assessed by the Gastrocnemius Muscle Index (GMI) in Wistar rats following sciatic nerve injury. This experimental study employed a post-test only control group design. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 10), sciatic nerve injury treated with 0.9% saline (n = 9), and sciatic nerve injury treated with UC-MSCs (n = 10). EPT and GMI assessments were performed at the end of the observation period. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA for EPT and the Kruskal–Wallis test for GMI, followed by the Mann–Whitney test. The results showed no significant difference in EPT values among groups (p = 0.160), although the UC-MSC–treated group demonstrated a lower mean EPT (−17.90 ± 39.02) compared with the saline-treated group (14.65 ± 34.47). In contrast, GMI differed significantly among groups (p = 0.012), with the UC-MSC group showing a higher median GMI [109.75 (82.81–143.88)] than the saline group [81.68 (61.22–104.56)], and this difference remained significant in post hoc analysis (p = 0.003). In conclusion, UC-MSC administration significantly improved gastrocnemius muscle structure but did not result in a statistically significant improvement in posterior limb motor function based on EPT in the early phase after sciatic nerve injury. Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, sciatic nerve injury, Extensor Postural Thrust, Gastrocnemius Muscle Index