title: Conduction velocity and fibre diameter of the peroneal nerve in normal and growth retarded fetal sheep.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Proske
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harding
mesh_terms: 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