[Motor evoked potentials for the determination of experimental spinal cord injuries]

In testing the clinical use of motor evoked potentials (MEP), optimal responses were obtained while using a stimulus with an intensity of 1100 V. The studies of spinal cord lesion revealed that MEP was dependent primarily on anterolateral column pathways. MEP was shown to be produced in the muscle and was not the result of volume conduction. On the spinal cord injury, the studies revealed that MEP was a reliable indicator of the initial extent of injuries. No adverse effects from transcranial stimulation were identified by either histological examination of animal brains or EEG after stimulation of animal. During neurosurgery, motor evoked potentials can be use for monitoring and also for detecting the effects of different drugs in treating spinal cord injury.