A study of the sciatic nerve compound action potential in vitro in normal and M. leprae infected mice.

A study of the sciatic nerve compound action potential was carried out, in normal and non-immunosuppressed swiss mice (white) inoculated with 5000 M. leprae in each hind foot pad, from 1st to 7th post-inoculation month. In normal mice, the threshold for stimulation, maximum amplitude, duration and conduction velocity of all the three components of the compound action potential were measured. Progressive changes were noted in amplitude and the threshold for stimulations of the unmyelinated fibre ('C' fibres) potentials. These changes were compared with the changes observed in the myelinated fibre potentials.