Compound Muscle Action Potential
Electrophysiological analysis was performed on both the left (contralateral sham control) and right (treatment) sciatic nerves before tissue harvesting. To measure CMAP, an electromyography system (Sapphire Premier; TECA/Vickers, Pleasantville, New York) was used. The stimulating electrodes were bipolar Teflon-coated stainless-steel electrodes separated by 1 mm. The stimulation sites were on the sciatic nerve proximal to the bifurcation point. At each stimulation site, the cathode was distal, and the anode was proximal. The ground electrode was a Teflon-coated stainless-steel needle inserted into the tail. CMAPs were recorded by 2 monopolar stainless-steel needles inserted 3 mm apart in the belly of the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL). The stimulus was a square electric pulse with a voltage of 19 mV, duration of 0.01 ms, and frequency of 1 Hz. During these procedures, the room temperature was controlled at 25°C, and a heating pad maintained rat body temperature at 37°C, as measured by a rectal temperature probe