Evaluation of sciatic nerve functions following electrical injury in rabbits

AIM The sciatic nerve of rabbit was injured by electrical current experimentally and the eletrophysiological indexes of the nerve were measured for the study of the injury mechanism. METHODS The sciatic nerve was injured with different electrical current and in different observation period the nerve conduction velocity, action potential peak value, latent period, stimulative threshold were measured. RESULTS The nerve conduction velocity and action potential peak value decreased along with augmentation of the injury current. Nevertheless, the latent period and stimulative threshold were the opposite. CONCLUSION The injury degree of the nerve correlates with the magnitude of the injury current. The thickness of the nerve affects the nerve injured extent. The action potential peak value can reflect the regeneration of the nerve fibers.