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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurements on Mouse Sciatic Nerves
Published on: April 13, 2014
Autonomic and Somatic Nerve Functions in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: Electrophysiological Aspects
Anca Motataianu1,2, Laura Barcutean1,2, Zoltan Bajko1,2
1Neurology 1 Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Mureș, Gh. Marinescu Str., No. 50, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Objectives:
To investigate the relationship between neurophysiological sensory and motor nerve function parameters, assessed by nerve conduction studies (NCS) with parasympathetic autonomic function and by heart rate variability (HRV) tests in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Material And Methods:
A total of 161 T2DM patients underwent NCS. Cardiac autonomic response was assessed by HRV tests to deep breathing (HRV DB), to Valsalva manoeuvre, and during postural change from lying to standing.
Results:
The amplitude of motor response in the median nerve, tibial nerve, and peroneal nerve was associated with reduced HRV DB (p = 0.0001). The amplitude of motor response in the median nerve, tibial nerve, and peroneal nerve was associated with reduced HRV Valsalva (p = 0.0001). The correlation between the amplitude of response in all sensory nerves (sural, median, and ulnar) and HRV DB was statistically significant (p = 0.0001).
Conclusion:
The results indicate that there is a correlation in T2DM patients between the damage of small myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres from cardiac autonomic nerves, assessed by HRV tests and damage of large motor and sensory fibres, assessed by NCS. Based on the above results, a combination of NCS and HRV tests should be considered in the neurophysiological approach to diabetic neuropathy.
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