Sural nerve conduction study in the rat: a new technique for studying experimental neuropathies.

An electrophysiologic technique for studying sensory fibers in the rat sural nerve is described. The conduction velocity of the sural nerve in rats is much slower than in humans, probably because of lack of large myelinated nerve fibers in rats. An experimental neuropathy (induced by hexachlorophene) that predominantly causes a myelin disorder produced a slowing of sural nerve conduction velocity and a potential of normal amplitude and duration. An experimental neuropathy (induced by zinc pyrithione) that primarily causes axonal degeneration produced a sensory potential of lower amplitude and shorter duration that had a normal conduction velocity.