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A comparison of electric and magnetic compound action signals as quantitative assays of peripheralo nerve regeneration
Author(s) -
Kuypers Paul D. L.,
Gielen Frans L. H.,
Wai Ruud Tjong Joe,
Hovius Steven E. R.,
Godschalk Moshe,
van Egeraat Jan M.
Publication year - 1993
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.880160609
Subject(s) - regeneration (biology) , peripheral nerve , biomedical engineering , compound muscle action potential , quantitative assessment , action potential , stimulus (psychology) , electrophysiology , medicine , anatomy , neuroscience , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , psychology , risk analysis (engineering) , psychotherapist
The evaluation of peripheral nerve regeneration is of great interest in clinical as well as in experimental situations. However, there are few techniques that give early and quantitative information on the states of the regeneration process. If quantitative assays would be available, different surgical techniques and medications could be evaluated more accurately in relation to axonal ingrowth and functional recovery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the merits of nerve compound action signals (NCASs) recorded electrically and signals recorded with a novel magnetic recording technique. We compared the two techniques in the rabbit peroneal nerve, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after a nerve reconstruction. Our conclusions are that the signals recorded with the magnetic sensor are far more reproducible and less prone to stimulus artifact than the electrically recorded signals. Furthermore, the magnetic recording shows that the number of axons that have regenerated increases with time. Previously, this could only be determined with histological studies. Other ingrowth parameters that can be quantified are the average ingrowth distance, and the variation between axons in ingrowth velocity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.