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Early component changes in corticomotor evoked potentials following experimental stroke.
1Section of Neurosurgery, Veterans Administration Hospital, Houston, Tex.
Stroke
|November 1, 1987
Summary
Corticomotor evoked potentials (CMEPs) show altered amplitudes after stroke, with early components increasing and late components also rising. This suggests potential for monitoring neurologic function and infarct extent.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Electrophysiology
- Stroke Research
Background:
- Corticomotor evoked potentials (CMEPs) are emerging tools for assessing neurologic function post-stroke.
- Fundamental electrophysiologic properties underlying CMEPs remain largely undefined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the electrophysiologic properties of CMEPs.
- To investigate CMEP changes following ischemic stroke in an animal model.
Main Methods:
- Anesthetized cats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
- Corticomotor evoked potentials were recorded from the hindlimb before and for 6 hours after MCAO.
- Transcranial stimulation was used to elicit CMEPs.
Main Results:
- Four control components of CMEPs were identified.
- Immediately post-MCAO, all CMEP component amplitudes were significantly reduced.
- By 5 hours post-MCAO, early latency components exceeded control amplitudes, and late latency components increased.
- Somatosensory evoked potentials were abolished and did not recover.
Conclusions:
- Amplitude changes in CMEPs post-stroke may involve facilitatory brainstem centers or direct subcortical pathway activation.
- CMEPs show promise for defining infarct extent and location.
- CMEPs could be valuable for assessing functional recovery after stroke.