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Frontiers in neuroscience2024; 18; 1342803; doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1342803

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to assess neuronal functional integrity in horses.

Abstract: Medical imaging allows for the visualization of spinal cord compression sites; however, it is impossible to assess the impact of visible stenotic sites on neuronal functioning, which is crucial information to formulate a correct prognosis and install targeted therapy. It is hypothesized that with the transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) technique, neurological impairment can be reliably diagnosed. Unassigned: To evaluate the ability of the TES technique to assess neuronal functional integrity in ataxic horses by recording TES-induced muscular evoked potentials (MEPs) in three different muscles and to structurally involve multiple ancillary diagnostic techniques, such as clinical neurological examination, plain radiography (RX) with ratio assessment, contrast myelography, and post-mortem gross and histopathological examination. Unassigned: Nine ataxic horses, showing combined fore and hindlimb ataxia (grades 2-4), were involved, together with 12 healthy horses. TES-induced MEPs were recorded bilaterally at the level of the trapezius (TR), the extensor carpi radialis (ECR), and tibialis cranialis (TC) muscles. Two Board-certified radiologists evaluated intra- and inter-sagittal diameter ratios on RX, reductions of dorsal contrast columns, and dural diameters (range skull-T1). Post-mortem gross pathological and segmental histopathological examination was also performed by a Board-certified pathologist. Unassigned: TES-MEP latencies were significantly prolonged in both ECR and TC in all ataxic horses as opposed to the healthy horses. The TR showed a mixed pattern of normal and prolonged latency times. TES-MEP amplitudes were the least discriminative between healthy and ataxic horses. Youden's cutoff latencies for ataxic horses were 24.6 ms for the ECR and 45.5 ms for the TC (sensitivity and specificity of 100%). For healthy horses, maximum latency values were 22 and 37 ms, respectively. RX revealed spinal cord compression in 8 out of 9 involved ataxic horses with positive predictive values of 0-100%. All ataxic horses showed multi-segmental Wallerian degeneration. All pathological changes recorded in the white matter of the spinal cord were widely dispersed across all cervical segments, whereas gray matter damage was more localized at the specific segmental level. Unassigned: TES-MEP latencies are highly sensitive to detect impairment of spinal cord motor functions for mild-to-severe ataxia (grades 2-4).
Copyright © 2024 Journée, Journée, Bergmann, Chantziaras, Vanderperren, Raes, Reed, de Bruijn, Berends and Delesalle.
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Publication Date: 2024-04-11 PubMed ID: 38665290PubMed Central: PMC11043471DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1342803Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper examines the use of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to measure neuronal functional integrity in horses with ataxia. The study found that the TES technique with muscular evoked potentials (MEPs) recording was able to distinguish healthy horses from ataxic horses and thus can be used as an effective diagnostic tool for spinal cord impairments.

Methodology

  • The researchers used nine ataxic horses and twelve healthy horses for the study.
  • TES-induced MEPs were recorded in three different muscles: trapezius (TR), extensor carpi radialis (ECR), and tibialis cranialis (TC).
  • Two certified radiologists evaluated intra- and inter-sagittal diameter ratios using plain radiography (RX).
  • They also checked reductions of dorsal contrast columns and dural diameters from the skull to T1 vertebra.
  • Post-mortem gross pathological and segmental histopathological examination was also conducted by a certified pathologist.

Findings

  • TES-MEP latencies, or the delay before occurrence of a response, were significantly prolonged in both ECR and TC muscles in all ataxic horses compared to healthy horses. The TR muscle showed a mixed pattern of normal and prolonged latency times.
  • TES-MEP amplitudes, or the size of a response, were not as useful in differentiating between ataxic and healthy horses.
  • Youden’s cutoff latencies for ataxic horses were 24.6 ms for the ECR and 45.5 ms for the TC, with a sensitivity and specificity rate of 100%. For healthy horses, the maximum latency values were shorter, at 22 and 37 ms respectively.
  • Plain Radiography (RX) revealed spinal cord compression in 8 out of 9 involved ataxic horses. The positive predictive values varied from 0-100%.
  • All ataxic horses showed multi-segmental Wallerian degeneration, a form of nerve degeneration resulting from damage to the neuron.
  • Pathological changes in the white matter of the spinal cord were widely present across all cervical segments. Damage to the gray matter was more localized at the specific segmental level.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that TES-MEP latencies are a sensitive measure to detect impairment of spinal cord motor functions in horses exhibiting mild to severe ataxia.
  • TES-MEP can therefore be utilized effectively as a diagnostic tool for ataxic conditions in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Journée SL, Journée HL, Bergmann W, Chantziaras I, Vanderperren K, Raes E, Reed SM, de Bruijn CM, Berends HI, Delesalle CJG. (2024). Evaluation of the diagnostic value of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to assess neuronal functional integrity in horses. Front Neurosci, 18, 1342803. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1342803

Publication

Frontiers in neuroscience
ISSN: 1662-4548
NlmUniqueID: 101478481
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 18
Pages: 1342803
PII: 1342803

Researcher Affiliations

Journée, Sanne Lotte
  • Equine Diagnostics, Wijns, Netherlands.
  • Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Research Group of Comparative Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Journée, Henricus Louis
  • Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
  • Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
  • Department of Orthopedics, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Bergmann, Wilhelmina
  • Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Chantziaras, Ilias
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vanderperren, Katrien
  • Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Raes, Els
  • Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Reed, Stephen Michael
  • Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY, United States.
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
de Bruijn, Cornelis Marinus
  • Wolvega Equine Clinic, Oldeholtpade, Netherlands.
Berends, Hanneke Irene
  • Department of Orthopedics, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Delesalle, Cathérine John Ghislaine
  • Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Research Group of Comparative Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. May A, Hanche-Olsen S, Goehring LS, Matiasek K, Jäderlund KH, Zablotski Y, Gröndahl G. Motor pathway evaluation by transcranial magnetic stimulation in Swedish horses with acquired equine polyneuropathy. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):115-124.
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