Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (32): 2516-2521.

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A standardized method to create peripheral nerve injury in dogs using an automatic non-serrated forceps

Xuhui Wang 1, 2, Liang Wan1, Xinyuan Li 1, 2, Youqiang Meng1, Ningxi Zhu1, Min Yang1, Baohui Feng1, Wenchuan Zhang 1, 2, Shugan Zhu1, Shiting Li 1, 2   

  1. 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
    2 The Cranial Nerve Disease Center of Shanghai, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Received:2012-02-06 Revised:2012-07-24 Online:2012-11-15 Published:2012-11-15
  • Contact: Shiting Li, M.D., Chief physician, Professor,Department of Neurosurgery,Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; the Cranial Nerve Disease Center of Shanghai, Shanghai 200092,China Lsting66@163.com
  • About author:Xuhui Wang★, Master,Attending physician,Department of Neurosurgery,Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; the Cranial Nerve Disease Center of Shanghai, Shanghai 200092,China Xuhui Wang and Liang Wan contributed equally to this work.

Abstract:

This study describes a method that not only generates an automatic and standardized crush injury in the skull base, but also provides investigators with the option to choose from a range of varying pressure levels. We designed an automatic, non-serrated forceps that exerts a varying force of 0 to 100 g and lasts for a defined period of 0 to 60 seconds. This device was then used to generate a crush injury to the right oculomotor nerve of dogs with a force of 10 g for 15 seconds, resulting in a deficit in the pupil-light reflex and ptosis. Further testing of our model with Toluidine-blue staining demonstrated that, at 2 weeks post-surgery disordered oculomotor nerve fibers, axonal loss, and a thinner than normal myelin sheath were visible. Electrophysiological examination showed occasional spontaneous potentials. Together, these data verified that the model for oculomotor nerve injury was successful, and that the forceps we designed can be used to establish standard mechanical injury models of peripheral nerves.

Key words: oculomotor nerve, forceps, instrument, nerve injury, model, quantitation, cranial nerve, peripheral nerve, neural regeneration