title: Activity-dependent changes in impulse conduction of single human motor axons: a stimulated single fiber electromyography study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to develop a novel method to assess activity-dependent hyperpolarization in human single motor axons at a constant stimulus frequency by using intra-muscular axonal stimulating single fiber electromyography (s-SFEMG).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed s-SFEMG in the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle of 10 normal subjects, and measured changes in latencies for single muscle fiber action potentials (MAPs) during 500 stimuli delivered at 5, 10 and 20 Hz. The data were analyzed with a repeated measurement analysis, and multiple comparisons were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 585 MAPs were examined at 5 Hz (n=190), 10 Hz (n=210), and 20 Hz (n=185) steady stimulation. There was a progressive linear prolongation of latencies, as the stimulus rate increased (F=95.6, p<0.001); the least square means (SEM) of latency change were 100.7 (0.28)% at 5 Hz, 102.3 (0.27)% at 10 Hz and 105.3 (0.28)% at 20 Hz. There were statistically significant differences between frequencies by Tukey-Kramer's method. Despite the significant latency prolongation, no activity-dependent conduction block developed. A 20 Hz electric stimulation to intramuscular axons was well-tolerated in all the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tetanic stimulation at a constant rate results in significant latency increase in single human motor axons, the extent of which depends on the stimulus frequency. The findings imply that physiological discharge rates will activate the Na(+)/K(+) pump and thereby produce axonal hyperpolarization in single motor axons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique may detect activity-dependent conduction block if the safety margin of impulse transmission is significantly reduced by demyelination or increased branching due to collateral sprouting in a variety of neuromuscular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. y-noto@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yu-ichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noto
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kazumoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Sagiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isose
authors.forename: Saiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nasu
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimaki
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohmori
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult