Awake evoked electromyography recording from the chronically implanted rat

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Abstract
Investigation of the effects of various factors on nerve regeneration has been compromised by the lack of an accurate and objective technique which can monitor dynamic changes in the status of nerve‐muscle innervation over the entire course of regeneration. The approach of evoked electromyography (EEMG) was adopted to obtain temporal and quantitative data during nerve regeneration. Initially, transcutaneous nerve stimulation and percutaneous muscle recording was performed, but the approach was abandoned because of the high intertest variability (20% average deviation) and requirement for anesthesia during testing. A new approach using chronically implanted stimulation and recording electrodes was adopted in an attempt to circumvent these problems. Initial acute studies performed in the hindlimb of the anesthetized rat identified stable EEMG recording sites with sciatic nerve stimulation. In a second study conducted in chronically implanted unanesthetized unrestrained animals, EEMG recording from these sites demonstrated remarkable stability with an average intertest variability of only 5%. Preliminary results have been obtained with this technique in monitoring the progression of hindlimb reinnervation following crush and transection nerve injuries.