흰쥐에서 삼차신경 유발전위의 특성

Abstract

Background: The trigeminal evoked potential (TEP) is one of the somatosensory evoked potenitals which have potential changes through the sensory pathway when the somatosensory nerve is stimulated. The present study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of TEP through the trigeminal pathways. Methods: Under urethane anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fixed to stereotaxic frame for evoked potential recording. The area around whiskers which is innervated by a pure sensory nerve branch of the trigeminal sensory pathway was stimulated and TEPs were recorded from the trigeminal nucleus, sensory thalamus, and somatosensory cortex. Results: Distinct TEP wave-forms were observed through the trigeminal pathways. The observed latencies were coincided with the ones expected through the conduction pathways of the trigeminal system. The latencies and amplitudes were specifically analyzed from different recording areas. Conclusions: The results suggest that relatively consistent TEPs can be recorded through the trigeminal pathway and these may afford normative data for the pathophysiological studies such as hydrocephalus, cerebral ischemia, and sensory disorders like trigeminal neuropathy.