This study tested the possibility of developing an experimental model of neuropathy in female Wistar rats inoculated with Mycobacterium leprae in the foot pad and assessed by repeated electrophysiological methods. M. leprae multiplied in the rats but considerably less than in simultaneously inoculated mice. No acid-fast bacilli were found in nerves. Motor and sensory conduction velocities remained normal at the thigh level of the sciatic nerve. At the leg, they decreased significantly bilaterally for motor conduction and in the inoculated side for sensory conduction at 21 months after inoculation. These results suggest the possibility of developing an experimental model of leprosy neuropathy which might be useful for therapeutic research. Further histopathological studies are needed to assess this paucibacillary model.
BT - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6384077?dopt=Abstract DA - 1984 Sep IS - 3 J2 - Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis. LA - eng N2 -This study tested the possibility of developing an experimental model of neuropathy in female Wistar rats inoculated with Mycobacterium leprae in the foot pad and assessed by repeated electrophysiological methods. M. leprae multiplied in the rats but considerably less than in simultaneously inoculated mice. No acid-fast bacilli were found in nerves. Motor and sensory conduction velocities remained normal at the thigh level of the sciatic nerve. At the leg, they decreased significantly bilaterally for motor conduction and in the inoculated side for sensory conduction at 21 months after inoculation. These results suggest the possibility of developing an experimental model of leprosy neuropathy which might be useful for therapeutic research. Further histopathological studies are needed to assess this paucibacillary model.
PY - 1984 SP - 365 EP - 70 T2 - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association TI - Electrophysiological studies of the sciatic nerves in Mycobacterium leprae foot pad-injected rats. VL - 52 SN - 0148-916X ER -