Assessment of the F wave technique for motor unit number estimation in normal dogs

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) 2018-04, Vol.234, p.30-35
• Main Authors: Togawa, G., Saito, M., Watanabe, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Canine; F wave; Motor unit number estimation; Multiple site stimulation
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.01.009

•Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) was performed in dogs using the multiple site stimulation F wave (MSS-F) technique.•The mean MUNE value in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle of normal dogs was 68.5 (range 47–106).•MSS-F measurements were highly reproducible in normal dogs and may be applicable in a clinical setting.•MUNE might be useful for evaluating motor neurone dysfunction in dogs with degenerative myelopathy. Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) is an electrophysiological technique to quantify the number of motor units in a muscle. A previous study examining MUNE in dogs used an incremental method. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the F wave method in dogs and to provide information about this technique. Seven healthy laboratory dogs were examined using the F wave method by stimulating either a single site or multiple sites. In the multiple site stimulation F wave (MSS-F) method, the nerve was stimulated at several close sites along the deep peroneal nerve innervating the extensor digitorum brevis muscle. Test-retest was performed with a 1 week interval in all dogs using both techniques. In this preliminary study, median MUNE values were 88 (range 27–187) using the single site stimulation F wave (SSS-F) method and 68.5 (range 47–106) using the MSS-F method. The intra-class correlation coefficients between the two sets of data for each method were 0.20 and 0.09 for left and right SSS-F, respectively, and 0.77 and 0.69 for left and right MSS-F, respectively. MSS-F had less intra-individual variability of MUNE values and was more reproducible. These results indicate that MSS-F can be performed in dogs. MUNE using MSS-F might help with quantitative evaluation of motor neurone dysfunction and progression of diseases affecting motor neurones.