Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan 22;11(2):139.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci11020139.

Addressing the Need of a Translational Approach in Peripheral Neuropathy Research: Morphology Meets Function

Laura Monza  1   2 , Giulia Fumagalli  1   2 , Alessia Chiorazzi  1   2 , Paola Alberti  1   2
Affiliations

Addressing the Need of a Translational Approach in Peripheral Neuropathy Research: Morphology Meets Function

Laura Monza et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathies (PNs) are a type of common disease that hampers the quality of life of affected people. Treatment, in most cases, is just symptomatic and often ineffective. To improve drug discovery in this field, preclinical evidence is warranted. In vivo rodent models allow a multiparametric approach to test new therapeutic strategies, since they can allow pathogenetic and morphological studies different from the clinical setting. However, human readouts are warranted to promptly translate data from the bench to the bedside. A feasible solution would be neurophysiology, performed similarly at both sides. We describe a simple protocol that reproduces the standard clinical protocol of a neurophysiology hospital department. We devised the optimal montage for sensory and motor recordings (neurography) in mice, and we also implemented F wave testing and a short electromyography (EMG) protocol at rest. We challenged this algorithm by comparing control animals (BALB/c mice) with a model of mild neuropathy to grasp even subtle changes. The neurophysiological results were confirmed with neuropathology. The treatment group showed all expected alterations. Moreover, the neurophysiology matched the neuropathological analyses. Therefore, our protocol can be suggested to promptly translate data from the bench to the bedside and vice versa.

Keywords: EMG; animal models; nerve conduction studies; neuropathology; neuropathy; neurophysiology; translational medicine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Nerve conduction study (NCS) montage. (A) Caudal nerve sensory conduction study (SCS) montage. (B) Digital nerve SCS montage. (C) Sciatic nerve motor conduction study (MCS) montage at the distal site of stimulation. (D) Sciatic nerve MCS montage at the proximal site of stimulation. (E) Sciatic nerve F wave montage.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Morphological analysis of the sciatic nerve at 40× magnification. (A) Exemplificative image of the control group animal specimen. (B) Representative image of an OHP group’s findings. White circles represent the few degenerating fibers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Mold J.W., Vesely S.K., Keyl B.A., Schenk J.B., Roberts M. The prevalence, predictors, and consequences of peripheral sensory neuropathy in older patients. J. Am. Board Fam. Pract. 2004;17:309–318. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.17.5.309. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Brouwer B.A., Merkies I.S., Gerrits M.M., Waxman S.G., Hoeijmakers J.G., Faber C.G. Painful neuropathies: The emerging role of sodium channelopathies. J. Peripher. Nerv. Syst. 2014;19:53–65. doi: 10.1111/jns5.12071. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barrell K., Smith A.G. Peripheral Neuropathy. Med. Clin. N. Am. 2019;103:383–397. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.006. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Scuteri A., Cavaletti G. How can neuroplasticity be utilized to improve neuropathy symptoms? Expert Rev. Neurother. 2016;16:1235–1236. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2016.1221344. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Merkies I.S., Lauria G., Faber C.G. Outcome measures in peripheral neuropathies: Requirements through statements. Curr. Opin. Neurol. 2012;25:556–563. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e328357f30f. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources