Normative nerve conductions in the tail of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of using the tail of Macaca mulatta for neurophysiological testing of the peripheral nervous system.


METHODS
Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) of the tail were obtained by surface stimulation and recording. The technique utilized was novel. Unlike other NCS obtained from other peripheral nerves, this technique did not require any special neurophysiological expertise.


RESULTS
The latency of the motor and sensory response was 2.5 +/- 0.71 and 1.1 +/- 0.27 ms respectively. The amplitude of the motor and sensory response was 8.1 +/- 5.1 mV and 14.6 +/- 9.4 microV respectively. Similar to human beings, there was a statistically significant relationship between age and motor amplitude, motor latency and sensory latency.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our results, a relatively simple, reproducible neurophysiological monitoring technique of the peripheral nervous system is possible.
Graham
W A
WA
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Ludlage
E
E
Mansfield
K
K
Magill
D
D
Nesathurai
S
S
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013623:Tail / Q000294:innervation*