An Assessment of Peripheral Nerve Damage In The Rat Following Non- Freezing Cold Exposure: An Electrophysiological and Histopathological Examination
Abstract
The effect of exposure to non-freezing cold temperature on peripheral nerve was studied in vivo. Rats' tails, and a portion of their lower backs, were submerged in 1 deg. C water for either 10 or 12 hours. Changes in evoked ascending nerve action potentials, and muscle action potentials in the rat tail and lumbar spine, were studied periodically over a three week period following cold exposure. In addition, ventral caudal nerves were excised 27 days following cold exposure and histopathology was performed. Electrophysiological analysis indicated initial nerve damage appeared to be just below the surface of the water, and later, in the first week after exposure, Wallerian degeneration occurred. Histopathological analysis revealed damage to the large myelinated fibers and capillaries within the fascicle following cold exposure. These results further validate the use of the rat tail as a model for non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) and suggest that the injury's etiology is multifaceted, which may require a variety of strategies and interventions to prevent its occurrence. ... Non-freezing injury, Cold injury, Rat caudal nerve, Peripheral nerve function, Conduction studies
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 20, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA264293
Entities
People
- David Shurtleff
- G. H. Pezeshkpour
- John R. Thomas
- Roger W. Gilliatt
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center