Functional studies on sciatic nerve blood flow in respect to its vascular supply and tonic neural activity.
An introduction of laser flow meters for a continuous measurements of a tissue blood flow has opened new avenues for an accurate assessment blood flow in peripheral nerves. The aim of our study was: 1) to carry out a functional verification of anatomical sources of a sciatic nerve blood supply in the rat; 2) develop a measurement technique to facilitate standardisation of results; 3) to determine the role of nerve fibres tonic activity in the maintenance of a resting blood flow in the sciatic nerve. Based on results of the present study the following conclusions have been drawn out: 1) in order to obtain a real values of the blood flow through the sciatic nerve it is necessary to remove its muscular fascia; 2) an uninjured epineurium plays a crucial role in maintaining the resting blood flow; 3) major blood supply of sciatic nerve comes from inferior gluteal and popliteal arteries; 4) the tonic neural activity plays a role in the maintenance of the resting sciatic nerve blood flow in anaesthetised rats.
Stolarczyk
A
A
Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland.
Papierski
K
K
Adamczyk
G
G
Siński
M
M
Sawionek
L
L
Przybylski
J
J
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005205:Fascia / Q000502:physiology; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008012:Lidocaine