In vitro electrophoresis and in vivo electrophysiology of peripheral nerve using DC field stimulation.
BACKGROUND
Given the movement of molecules within tissue that occurs naturally by endogenous electric fields, we examined the possibility of using a low-voltage DC field to move charged substances in rodent peripheral nerve in vitro.


METHODS
Labeled sugar- and protein-based markers were applied to a rodent peroneal nerve and then a 5-10 V/cm field was used to move the molecules within the extra- and intraneural compartments. Physiological and anatomical nerve properties were also assessed using the same stimulation in vivo.


RESULTS
We demonstrate in vitro that charged and labeled compounds are capable of moving in a DC field along a nerve, and that the same field applied in vivo changes the excitability of the nerve, but without damage.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that low-voltage electrophoresis could be used to move charged molecules, perhaps therapeutically, safely along peripheral nerves.
Surgery Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Research Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, United States. Electronic address: madis001@mc.duke.edu.
Roger D
RD
Madison
Surgery Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States. Electronic address: robin038@mc.duke.edu.
Grant A
GA
Robinson
Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Neuroscience Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christian
C
Krarup
Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Neuroscience Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mihai
M
Moldovan
Psychiatry Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Research Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, United States.
Qiang
Q
Li
Social Sciences Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Research Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, United States.
Wilkie A
WA
Wilson
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004594:Electrophysiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
Axon; Electric field; Electrophoresis; Nerve; Peroneal; Threshold tracking