Whole Nerve Electrophysiology and Analyses of A-alpha/beta, A-delta, and C Fiber Action Potentials
Alyssa Flippen1, Maggie Dubus1, Micaela Dugan1
1Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
Abstract:
Ex vivo whole peripheral nerve electrophysiology provides a powerful tool for evaluating the effects of current and potential clinical treatments on nerve impulse transmission. It allows quantitative assessment of nerve conduction through compound action potential (AP) recordings, which can be correlated with sensory and motor changes. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive methodology for isolating and analyzing APs from individual nerve fiber subtypes (e.g., A-alpha/beta, A-delta, and C fibers). This article details the optimal setup conditions and nerve stimulator parameters required to capture APs from specific nerve fibers reliably and provides a detailed and systematic approach for their analysis. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Setup conditions for obtaining individual nerve fiber action potentials Basic Protocol 2: Nerve handling and parameters for optimal nerve health Basic Protocol 3: Nerve stimulation to obtain nerve fiber action potentials Support Protocol 1: Parameters for A-alpha/beta fiber stimulation and recording Support Protocol 2: Parameters for A-delta and C fiber stimulation and recording Basic Protocol 4: Quantitative analysis of nerve fiber action potentials Support Protocol 3: A-alpha/beta fiber analysis Support Protocol 4: A-delta fiber analysis Support Protocol 5: C fiber analysis.
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