Age-related effects on motor nerve conduction velocity in chickens.
Compound motor-nerve action potentials evoked by supramaximal stimulation of the proximal and distal aspects of the tibial nerve were evaluated in chickens 1 to 15 weeks old. Motor-nerve conduction velocity increased from a mean of 22.6 m/s at week 1 to a mean of 52.7 m/s at week 15. The increase in conduction velocity was greatest for the first few weeks, and reached a plateau at 10 weeks. Subcutaneous limb temperature, limb length, and proximal latency measurements also increased with age; however, distal latency measurements were not significantly influenced by age. A quadratic equation was calculated to predict mean motor-nerve conduction velocity for maturing chickens.
Bagley
R S
RS
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
Wheeler
S J
SJ
James
R L
RL
D000200:Action Potentials; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*