Quantitative analysis of motor evoked potentials in the neonatal lamb

Evoking motor potentials are an objective assessment method for neuromotor function, yet this was to our knowledge never done in neonatal lambs. There is neither a method for standardized quantification of motor evoked potentials (MEPs). We first aimed to evaluate the feasibility of MEP recording in neonatal lambs and test its validity. Second we aimed to develop an algorithm for its quantification and test its reliability since manual input is required. We recorded myogenic MEPs after transcranial motor cortex stimulation in 6 lambs aged 1-2 days. MEPs were also measured in one lamb undergoing Neuro-Muscular Blockade (NMB) and another undergoing lumbar spinal cord (SC) transection, both serving as controls. We computed 5 parameters using a custom-made algorithm: motor threshold, latency, area-under-the-curve, peak-to-peak amplitude and duration. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was analyzed. MEPs could be easily recorded, disappearing after NMB and SC transection. The algorithm allowed for analysis, hence physiologic readings of the parameters in all 4 limbs of all lambs were obtained. Our method was shown to have high intra- and inter-observer ( ≥70%) reliability for latency, area-under-the-curve and peak-to-peak amplitude. These results suggest that standardized MEP recording and analysis in neonatal lambs is feasible, and can reliably assess neuromotor function.