title: Conduction velocity distribution of afferent fibers in the female rat hypogastric nerve.
abstract: Conduction velocities of single afferent fibers in the female rat hypogastric nerve were measured by stimulating dorsal rootlets and recording from the hypogastric nerve. A total of 344 units were identified and measured. They were distributed among dorsal roots T13 to L3 ipsilaterally (75%) and between L1 and L2 contralaterally (25%). Over 95% were found in the L1 plus L2 dorsal roots. Ninety-six percent of the units had conduction velocities less than 2 m/s; the average conduction velocity was 0.98 m/s. By way of contrast, afferents in the postganglionic nerves innervating the urinary bladder with conduction velocities less than 2 m/s constituted 65% of the afferents. We conclude that the overwhelming majority of afferents in the female rat hypogastric nerve are unmyelinated C-fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nadelhaft
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Vera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D007001:Hypogastric Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains