RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To report on the occurrence of iatrogenic Horner's syndrome (HS) in epileptic rats after implantation of an electrode for vagus nerve stimulation and to describe the possible consequences of this new complication of carotid artery surgery in rats. METHODS: A bipolar circular electrode was placed around the left carotid artery and vagus nerve of 31 rats. The incidence of HS was evaluated by visual inspection within 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: 68% of rats suffered from HS immediately after surgery. This complication did not affect epileptogenesis. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of HS in the rat is a frequent complication of vagus nerve electrode implantation, which does not affect epileptogenesis in this study. However, rats affected by HS may suffer from damage to the sympathetic innervation of the gut, due to rat-specific neuroanatomy. Therefore, caution towards other research questions is warranted.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/fisiopatología , Arterias Carótidas/cirugía , Síndrome de Horner/fisiopatología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/fisiopatología , Sistema Nervioso Simpático/lesiones , Sistema Nervioso Simpático/fisiopatología , Amígdala del Cerebelo/fisiopatología , Animales , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/etiología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/patología , Arterias Carótidas/anatomía & histología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Terapia por Estimulación Eléctrica/efectos adversos , Terapia por Estimulación Eléctrica/métodos , Epilepsia/etiología , Epilepsia/fisiopatología , Epilepsia/terapia , Ojo/inervación , Ojo/fisiopatología , Ganglios Simpáticos/lesiones , Ganglios Simpáticos/patología , Ganglios Simpáticos/fisiopatología , Síndrome de Horner/etiología , Síndrome de Horner/patología , Iris/inervación , Iris/fisiopatología , Excitación Neurológica/fisiología , Masculino , Músculo Liso/inervación , Músculo Liso/fisiopatología , Procedimientos Neuroquirúrgicos/efectos adversos , Procedimientos Neuroquirúrgicos/métodos , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/patología , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Fibras Simpáticas Posganglionares/lesiones , Fibras Simpáticas Posganglionares/patología , Fibras Simpáticas Posganglionares/fisiopatología , Sistema Nervioso Simpático/patología , Nervio Vago/fisiología , Nervio Vago/cirugíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: In neonates with spina bifida aperta (SBA), leg movements by myotomes caudal to the meningomyelocele (MMC) are transiently observed. It is unclear whether these leg movements relate to functional neural conduction through the MMC. For optimal therapeutical intervention, pathophysiological insight in these transient leg movements seems relevant. If leg movements by myotomes caudal to the MMC concur with the execution of general movements (GMs), functional neural conduction through the MMC is implicated. OBJECTIVE: In neonates with SBA, we aimed to determine whether the transiently present leg movements caudal to the MMC indicate functional neural conduction through the MMC. METHODS: During the perinatal period, fetuses and neonates with SBA (n = 7 and n = 13, respectively) were longitudinally analysed for concurrency between leg movements caudal to the MMC and GMs. To address the integrity of the reflex arc in spinal segments (at, or) caudal to the MMC, tendon leg reflexes were assessed during the first postnatal week. RESULTS: At postnatal day 1, leg movements caudal to the MMC concurred with GMs in 12 of 13 infants. Isolated leg movements were observed in only 3 of these 12 infants (isolated vs. concurrent; p < 0.005). Leg movements concurring with GMs lasted longer than isolated leg movements (median duration = 11 s vs. 2 s; p < 0.05). Between days 1 and 7, tendon leg reflexes (at, or) caudal to the MMC had disappeared in all but 1 neonate. However, leg movements caudal to the MMC remained concurrently present with GMs in all five neonates available for follow-up after day 7. Comparing these leg movements between days 1 and 7 indicated a decreased duration (-44%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In neonates with SBA, leg movements caudal to the MMC concur with GMs, indicative of functional neural conduction through the MMC. The disappearance of these leg movements is caused by lower motor neuron dysfunction at the reflex arc, whereas neural conduction through the MMC is still functional.