Journal Article

Median Nerve Trauma in a Rat Model of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder

Amin, Mamta, Barbe, Mary F., Barr, Ann E., Al-Shatti, Talal, Clark, Brian D., Safadi, Fayez F., Beitman, Lisa, Gaughan, John P.

2003

Overview

Anatomical and physiological changes were evaluated in the median nerves of rats trained to perform repetitive reaching. Motor degradation was evident after 4 weeks. ED1-immunoreactive macrophages were seen in the transcarpal region of the median nerve of both forelimbs by 5–6 weeks. Fibrosis, characterized by increased immunoexpression of collagen type I by 8 weeks and connective tissue growth factor by 12 weeks, was evident. The conduction velocity (NCV) within the carpal tunnel showed a modest but significant decline after 9–12 weeks. The lowest NCV values were found in animals that refused to participate in the task for the full time available. Thus, both anatomical and physiological signs of progressive tissue damage were present in this model. These results, together with other recent findings indicate that work-related carpal tunnel syndrome develops through mechanisms that include injury, inflammation, fibrosis and subsequent nerve compression.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Liebert,Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
• Subject: Animals / Biological and medical sciences / Carpal tunnel syndrome / Collagen / Connective tissue / Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction / Cumulative Trauma Disorders - pathology / Cumulative Trauma Disorders - physiopathology / Disease Models, Animal / Female / Food / Growth factors / Inflammation / Injuries / Laboratory animals / Median Nerve - injuries / Median Nerve - pathology / Median Nerve - physiopathology / Medical sciences / Musculoskeletal diseases / Musculoskeletal Diseases - pathology / Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology / Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes) / Neurology / Pathology / Physiology / Rats / Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Trauma