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Use of cord dorsum potentials to study the effects of hypoxia on spinal cord functions in neonatal rabbits

Research Project

Project/Area Number 08671315
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
Research InstitutionUniversity of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

KOZUMA Shiro  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Associate Professor, 医学部・附属病院, 助教授 (10272569)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) MARUMO Genzo  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lecturer, 医学部・附属病院, 助手 (60282646)
KOBAYASHI Kouichi  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lecturer, 医学部・附属病院, 助手 (10262015)
RYO Eiji  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lecturer, 医学部・附属病院, 助手 (30221683)
UNNO Nobuya  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lecturer, 医学部・附属病院, 助手 (90193979)
OKAI Takashi  University of Tokyo, Dept.of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Associate Professor, 医学部・附属病院, 助教授 (40126016)
Project Period (FY) 1996 – 1998
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1998)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Keywordscord dorsum potential / hypoxia / neonate / 胎動 / 低酸素
Research Abstract

Fetal body and breathing movements cease in hypoxia. The inhibition of fetal breathing movements is thought to be mediated via the upper pons, since brainstem transection at this level abolishes the effect of hypoxia on fetal breathing movements. It thus appears that a descending inhibitory process operates to depress breathing in hypoxia in the fetus. However, the mechanism by which fetal body movements are abolished by hypoxia is still unknown. We hypothesized that hypoxia also causes descending inhibition of the spinal cord function.
Cord dorsum potential ia a slow, reproducible potential evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation, first described by Gasser and Tredway (1933) and used to assess the functional state of the nervous system. It is recorded from the surface of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in response to a volley in cutaneous afferents following electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve. It consists of an afferent volley, one or more negative (N) waves and a positive … More (P) wave. These reflect the excitation of interneurons in the dorsal horn in response to peripheral stimulation. It has been shown that there are descending inhibitory pathways converging on these interneurons thought to direct the selective activation of particular reflex pathways, thereby regulating motor output (Lundberg & Vyklicky, 1963). In this study we have attempted to investigate the possible roles of theses pathways during hypoxia on the spinal cord function of the neonate.
New Zealand White rabbits (age=21-28 days ; weight=650-900g) were used. The sciatic nerve was isolated, sectioned and the central end placed on bipolar stimulating electrodes. A laminectomy was performed exposing the upper cervical portions (T1/T2) and the lower lumber portions (L6/L7) of the spinal cord. A Ag-AgCI ball recording electrode was lowered onto this for the recording of evoked potentials. After a 15 min period of normoxia stimulation began. The animal was then exposed to mild hypoxia, stimulation and recording occurring 15 minutes after any change in oxygen status. The cervical laminectomy was then re-exposed and the cord severed at T1/T2 using a fine scalpel and the protocol was then repeated.
In intact neonates, amplitude of N wave did not show any significant changes in hypoxia, whereas latency of N wave was longer in moderate hypoxia than in control. There were no significant changes between any of the experiments in latency and amplitude of P waves. Amplitude of N tended to decrease in hypoxia in spinal cord sectioned neonates, alhtough latency of N wave did not show any significant changes in hypoxia. P wave showed a significant decrease in amplitude and latency in hypoxia. In conclusion, hypoxia did not alter the cord dorsum potentials in neonatal rabbits unless the spinal cord had been transected. This suggests that during hypoxia some descending influence maintains the function of the interneurons in the spinal cord. Less

Report

(4 results)
  • 1998 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • 1996 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1996-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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