Electrophysiology Services

Electrophysiology Capabilities 

Measuring electrophysiology action potentials has allowed our scientists to expand our Electrophysiology (EP) services and available animal models. As one of the few laboratories in the world with these EP measurement capabilities, we can measure nerve regeneration, degeneration and protection in response to various treatments as well as non-rodent species application including our pig translational models. Application of these capabilities to EAE and MS models, peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injury and CNS pain models provide valuable information into multiple areas of compound efficacy.  

Example Applications:

MOG EAE Model (Example of Motor Action Potential Assessment) 

• tcMEP recording of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) induced EAE in mice. This model triggers a T-cell response against self-myelin, imitating the autoimmune component of multiple sclerosis (MS) and triggering demyelination. The degree of disability is assessed throughout the course of the study by clinical observations. Therapeutic agents may delay or diminish the severity of immune response, also quantified by changes in clinical scores. 
• Measurement: Motor action potential (featuring a specialized Renovo Neural paradigm)

Peripheral Nerve Injury (Example of Muscle Action Potential Assessment) 

• The graph below shows measurements of compound muscle action potentials (cMAPS) from the gastrocnemius muscle for a peripheral nerve injury model in rats. 
• Measurement: Muscle action potential 

                                           Schematic presentation of cMAPs (A. Graphic presentation of action potential and the parameters that are 

                                           recorded (i.e. amplitude; peak to peak, onset latency and duration; B. Schematic presentation of recording from

                                          normal (top) and injured nerve (bottom)