Heinzel Johannes C, Oberhauser Viola, Keibl Claudia, Swiadek Nicole, Längle Gregor, Frick Helen, Kolbenschlag Jonas, Prahm Cosima, Grillari Johannes, Hercher David
Department of Hand, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Trauma Center Tuebingen, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.
Front Neurosci. 2021 Jan 21;14:593545. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.593545. eCollection 2020.
Computerized gait analysis is a common evaluation method in rat models of hind limb nerve injuries, but its use remains unpublished in models of segmental nerve injury of the forelimb. It was the aim of this work to investigate if computerized gait analysis is a feasible evaluation method in a rat model of segmental median nerve injury and autograft repair. Ten male Lewis rats underwent 7-mm resection of the right median nerve with immediate autograft repair. The left median nerve was resected without repair and served as an internal control. Animals were assessed for 12 weeks after surgery CatWalk (CW) gait analysis every 2 weeks. Evaluation of motor recovery by means of the grasping test was performed weekly while electrophysiological measurements were performed at the end of the observation period. CW data were correlated with grasping strength at each post-operative time point. CW data were also correlated with electrophysiology using linear regression analysis. Principal component analysis was performed to identify clusters of outcome metrics. Recovery of motor function was observable 4 weeks after surgery, but grasping strength was significantly reduced ( < 0.01) compared to baseline values until post-operative week 6. In terms of sensory recovery, the pain-related parameter Duty Cycle showed significant ( < 0.05) recovery starting from post-operative week 8. The Print Area of the right paw was significantly ( < 0.05) increased compared to the left side starting from post-operative week 10. Various parameters of gait correlated significantly ( < 0.05) with mean and maximum grasping strength. However, only Stand Index showed a significant correlation with compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude ( < 0.05). With this work, we prove that computerized gait analysis is a valid and feasible method to evaluate functional recovery after autograft repair of the rat median nerve. We were able to identify parameters such as Print Area, Duty Cycle, and Stand Index, which allow assessment of nerve regeneration. The course of these parameters following nerve resection without repair was also assessed. Additionally, external paw rotation was identified as a valid parameter to evaluate motor reinnervation. In summary, computerized gait analysis is a valuable additional tool to study nerve regeneration in rats with median nerve injury.
计算机化步态分析是后肢神经损伤大鼠模型中常用的评估方法,但在前肢节段性神经损伤模型中的应用尚未见报道。本研究旨在探讨计算机化步态分析在大鼠正中神经节段性损伤及自体移植修复模型中是否为一种可行的评估方法。10只雄性Lewis大鼠接受了右侧正中神经7毫米切除术并立即进行自体移植修复。左侧正中神经切除未修复,作为内部对照。术后12周对动物进行评估,每2周进行一次CatWalk(CW)步态分析。每周通过抓握试验评估运动恢复情况,在观察期结束时进行电生理测量。将CW数据与术后各时间点的抓握强度进行相关性分析。还使用线性回归分析将CW数据与电生理进行相关性分析。进行主成分分析以识别结果指标的聚类。术后4周可观察到运动功能恢复,但与基线值相比,抓握强度在术后第6周前显著降低(P<0.01)。在感觉恢复方面,与疼痛相关的参数 Duty Cycle从术后第8周开始显示出显著(P<0.05)恢复。从术后第10周开始,右爪的Print Area与左侧相比显著(P<0.05)增加。各种步态参数与平均和最大抓握强度显著(P<0.05)相关。然而,只有站立指数与复合肌肉动作电位(CMAP)幅度显示出显著相关性(P<0.05)。通过本研究,我们证明计算机化步态分析是评估大鼠正中神经自体移植修复后功能恢复的有效且可行的方法。我们能够识别出诸如Print Area、Duty Cycle和站立指数等参数,这些参数可用于评估神经再生。还评估了未修复神经切除后这些参数的变化过程。此外,外部爪旋转被确定为评估运动再支配的有效参数。总之,计算机化步态分析是研究正中神经损伤大鼠神经再生的有价值的附加工具。