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Persistent reduction of conduction velocity and myelinated axon damage in vibrated rat tail nerves
Author(s) -
Loffredo Michael A.,
Yan JiGeng,
Kao Dennis,
Zhang Lin Ling,
Matloub Hani S.,
Riley Danny A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21235
Subject(s) - nerve conduction velocity , axon , persistence (discontinuity) , medicine , reduction (mathematics) , nerve conduction , anatomy , vibration , neuroscience , biology , physics , mathematics , geometry , geotechnical engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics
Prolonged hand‐transmitted vibration exposure in the workplace has been recognized for almost a century to cause neurodegenerative and vasospastic disease. Persistence of the diseased state for years after cessation of tool use is of grave concern. To understand persistence of vibration injury, the present study examined recovery of nerve conduction velocity and structural damage of myelinated axons in a rat tail vibration model. Both 7 and 14 days of vibration (4 h/day) decreased conduction velocity. The decrease correlated directly with the increased percentage of disrupted myelinated axons. The total number of myelinated axons was unchanged. During 2 months of recovery, conduction velocity returned to control level after 7‐day vibration but remained decreased after 14‐day vibration. The rat tail model provides insight into understanding the persistence of neural deficits in hand–arm vibration syndrome. Muscle Nerve, 2009