title: Lack of association between outcome measures of nerve regeneration.
abstract: Studies of nerve regeneration in rodents utilize at least one of three classes of outcome measures: electrophysiology, morphometry, and functional tests. The assumption that these measures are correlated was tested utilizing a data set of 16 variables. Significant correlations (Spearman's rho, P < or = 0.05) were found within variable classes; however, none were found between classes. The three commonly utilized outcome measures do not measure the same phenomenon but rather discrete aspects of nerve regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, North York, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Midha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology