Effects of Local Hyperthermia on the Motor Function of the Rat Sciatic Nerve

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Abstract
The effect of local heat treatment of the sciatic nerve was assessed using the toe-spreading test, which mainly assesses the motor function of the sciatic nerve. A 5 mm long segment of the nerve was heated at temperatures from 42·0 to 45·0°C in vivo using a brass thermode. Hyperthermia led to a decrease in spreading of the toes. Recovery from functional loss took place in all cases, and this recovery was completed in 4 weeks. A 50 per cent functional loss in 50 per cent of the treated animals was observed after 58, 32 and 12 min of heating at 43·0, 44·0 and 45·0°C respectively.