Conduction velocity and fibre diameter of the peroneal nerve in normal and growth retarded fetal sheep.
In this study we have examined structural and functional aspects of nerve fibre development in experimentally growth retarded fetal sheep following restriction of placental growth by carunclectomy in 5 ewes. Measurement of whole-nerve conduction velocity in the peroneal nerve showed, for the most rapidly conducting fibres, a significant slowing from the normal value of 50.3 +/- 1.8 m/s to 33.8 +/- 3.3 m/s (P less than 0.01). Histological examination of nerve sections revealed a deficit of large myelinated fibres in growth retarded fetuses which is consistent with the conduction velocity measurements.
Rees
S
S
Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
Proske
U
U
Harding
R
R
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology