Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1972 Aug;35(4):537–544. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.4.537

Impairment of repetitive impulse conduction in experimentally demyelinated and pressure-injured nerves 1,2

Floyd A Davis 1
PMCID: PMC494119  PMID: 4340434

Abstract

Repetitive impulse conduction was studied in segmentally demyelinated peripheral nerves in guinea-pigs with experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) and in pressure-injured frog sciatic nerves. Normal guinea-pig sciatic-peroneal nerves maintained at 37°C conducted compound action potentials with only minor amplitude decreases at stimulus frequencies up to 200/sec. In contrast, nerves in EAN guinea-pigs maintained at 37°C demonstrated a rapidly progressive decrease in action potential amplitude when stimulated as slowly as 10-25/sec. The decrease is greater the higher the frequency of stimulation. At 100 stimuli/sec all EAN preparations showed more than a 50% reduction in action potential amplitude. These effects are reversible. In pressure-injured frog sciatic nerves similar effects occurred at stimulus frequencies as low as 50/sec. Normal frog nerves conducted up to 200 impulses/sec with little amplitude decrease. The probable mechanism and clinical significance of these results are discussed.

Full text

PDF
537

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. CRAGG B. G., THOMAS P. K. CHANGES IN NERVE CONDUCTION IN EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC NEURITIS. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1964 Apr;27:106–115. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.27.2.106. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Davis F. A., Becker F. O., Michael J. A., Sorensen E. Effect of intravenous sodium bicarbonate, disodium edetate (Na2EDTA), and hyperventilation on visual and oculomotor signs in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1970 Dec;33(6):723–732. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.33.6.723. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Davis F. A., Jacobson S. Altered thermal sensitivity in injured and demyelinated nerve. A possible model of temperature effects in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1971 Oct;34(5):551–561. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.34.5.551. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Davis F. A. Pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis and related clinical implications. Mod Treat. 1970 Sep;7(5):890–902. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hall J. I. Studies on demyelinated peripheral nerves in guinea-pigs with experimental allergic neuritis. A histological and electrophysiological study. II. Electrophysiological observations. Brain. 1967 Jun;90(2):313–332. doi: 10.1093/brain/90.2.313. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lehmann H. J., Lehmann G., Tackmann W. Refraktärperiode und Ubermittlung von Serienimpulsen im N. tibialis des Meerschweinchens bei experimenteller allergischer Neuritis. Z Neurol. 1971 Apr 28;199(1):67–85. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lehmann H. J., Tackmann W., Lehmann G. Funktionsänderung markhaltiger Nervenfasern im N. tibialis des Meerschweinchens bei postdiphtherischer Polyneuritis. Z Neurol. 1971 Apr 28;199(1):86–104. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MAYER R. F., DENNY-BROWN D. CONDUCTION VELOCITY IN PERIPHERAL NERVE DURING EXPERIMENTAL DEMYELINATION IN THE CAT. Neurology. 1964 Aug;14:714–726. doi: 10.1212/wnl.14.8_part_1.714. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MCDONALD W. I. THE EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL DEMYELINATION ON CONDUCTION IN PERIPHERAL NERVE: A HISTOLOGICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY. II. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. Brain. 1963 Sep;86:501–524. doi: 10.1093/brain/86.3.501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McDonald W. I., Sears T. A. The effects of experimental demyelination on conduction in the central nervous system. Brain. 1970;93(3):583–598. doi: 10.1093/brain/93.3.583. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Morgan-Hughes J. A. Experimental diphtheritic neuropathy. A pathological and electrophysiological study. J Neurol Sci. 1968 Jul-Aug;7(1):157–175. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(68)90011-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. WAKSMAN B. H., ADAMS R. D. A comparative study of experimental allergic neuritis in the rabbit, guinea pig, and mouse. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1956 Jul;15(3):293–334. doi: 10.1097/00005072-195607000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES