The synergistic enhancement of pathology in intermittently cooled nerve.
OBJECTIVE
To explore how non-freezing cold nerve injury (NFCNI) is affected by fluctuating ambient temperatures.


METHODS
The sciatic nerves of Wistar rats were exposed to either intermittent cooling and rewarming or continuous cooling. The pathology was assessed neurophysiologically and morphologically.


RESULTS
More severe injury was observed when nerve was intermittently cooled, despite an identical duration and degree of cooling.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed pathology is a result of repeated reperfusion injury to nerves that are cooled intermittently.
Jia
J
J
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China. jjpneuro@public3.bta.net.cn
Jia
J
J
Pollock
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology