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Changes of sensory conduction velocity and refractory periods with decreasing tissue temperature in man

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Summary

Changes with temperature of maximum sensory nerve conduction velocity as well as absolute and relative refractory periods were tested in 14 human subjects. Corresponding to previously published findings maximum conduction velocity decreased with cooling following a Q10 of +1.4. The absolute and relative refractory periods were increased by cooling, the Q10 being −3.1 and −3.35 respectively. There was a tendency showing a more pronounced temperature effect at low temperatures. The Q10 and the steepness of the regressionline changed at the level of 26.9°C, but were significant for the relative refractory period only.

Zusammenfassung

An 14 gesunden jugendlichen Probanden wurde die sensible Nervenleitgeschwindigkeit sowie die absolute und relative Refraktärperiode des N. ulnaris bei Temperaturen zwischen 35°C und 20°C bestimmt.

Die Gewebstemperatur wurde durch eisgekühlte Gelkissen bis auf 20°C gesenkt und subkutan dicht am Nerven bestimmt.

Für die Bereiche 35°C bis 25°C und 30°C bis 20°C wurden die Q10-Werte für die sensible NLG mit 1,36 bzw. 1,44, für die absolute Refraktärperiode mit −3,18 bzw. −3,01 und für die relative Refraktärperiode mit −3,21 bzw. −3,49 bestimmt.

Die Unterschiede der Q10-Werte für die NLG und die Refraktärperioden sowie die Zunahme des Q10 unterhalb einer Temperatur von 27°C werden anhand der bisher veröffentlichten Literaturbefunde diskutiert.

Unter Berücksichtigung dieser Befunde ergibt sich bei Extrapolation klinisch-neurophysiologischer Meßwerte auf 35°C für die NLG eine Korrektur von 1,3 m/s pro °C und für die relative Refraktärperiode von 0,5 ms/°C.

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Dedicated to Prof. Fritz Buchthal on the occasion of his seventyth birthday

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Lowitzsch, K., Hopf, H.C. & Galland, J. Changes of sensory conduction velocity and refractory periods with decreasing tissue temperature in man. J. Neurol. 216, 181–188 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313619

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