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An electrophysiological evaluation method for the ovine facial nerve
Hajime Matsumine1, Yosuke Niimi1, Hisami Matsumine2
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho Women's Clinic, 5-3-10 Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0042, Japan.
Regenerative Therapy
|May 10, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new percutaneous method to measure evoked compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in sheep facial nerves. This technique is crucial for advancing facial nerve regeneration studies in large animal models.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neuroscience
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Establishing sheep as a large-animal model for facial nerve regeneration is hindered by the absence of electrophysiological assessment methods.
- Current limitations impede the evaluation of regenerated nerve function in preclinical models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a percutaneous measurement method for assessing the electrophysiological function of the sheep facial nerve.
- To establish a reliable technique for obtaining evoked compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) in sheep.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical exploration identified the buccal branch of the facial nerve and its target muscles in six Corriedale sheep.
- Surface stimulating electrodes were applied along the nerve's course for percutaneous CMAP measurement of the nasolabial levator muscle.
Main Results:
- Percutaneous CMAP measurements were successfully obtained in all sheep.
- Key electrophysiological parameters recorded were: amplitude (4.7 ± 0.7 mV), duration (2.1 ± 0.6 ms), and latency (3.6 ± 0.4 ms).
Conclusions:
- A novel percutaneous method for measuring CMAPs of the sheep facial nerve's buccal branch has been successfully established.
- This technique is anticipated to significantly aid future research into facial nerve regeneration, particularly for long nerve defects in sheep models.
