Abstract: There are indications that transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) assesses the motor function of the spinal cord in horses in a more sensitive and reproducible fashion than transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, no normative data of TES evoked motor potentials (MEP) is available. Results: In this prospective study normative data of TES induced MEP wave characteristics (motor latency times (MLT); amplitude and waveform) was obtained from the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and tibial cranialis (TC) muscles in a group of healthy horses to create a reference frame for functional diagnostic purposes. For the 12 horses involved in the study 95% confidence intervals for MLTs were 16.1-22.6 ms and 31.9-41.1 ms for ECR and TC muscles respectively. Intra-individual coefficients of variation (CV) and mean of MLTs were: ECR: 2.2-8,2% and 4.5% and TC: 1.4-6.3% and 3.5% respectively. Inter-individual CVs for MLTs were higher, though below 10% on all occasions. The mean ± sd of MEP amplitudes was respectively 3.61 ± 2.55 mV (ECR muscle left) and 4.53 ± 3.1 mV (right) and 2.66 ± 2.22 mV (TC muscle left) and 2.55 ± 1.85 mV (right). MLTs showed no significant left versus right differences. All MLTs showed significant (p < 0.05) voltage dependent decreases with slope coefficients of linear regression for ECR: - 0.049; - 0.061 ms/V and TC: - 0.082; - 0.089 ms/V (left; right). There was a positive correlation found between height at withers and MLTs in all 4 muscle groups. Finally, reliable assessment of MEP characteristics was for all muscle groups restricted to a transcranial time window of approximately 15-19 ms. Conclusions: TES is a novel and sensitive technique to assess spinal motor function in horses. It is easy applicable and highly reproducible. This study provides normative data in healthy horses on TES induced MEPs in the extensor carpi radialis and tibialis cranialis muscles bilaterally. No significant differences between MLTs of the left and right side could be demonstrated. A significant effect of stimulation voltage on MLTs was found. No significant effect of height at the withers could be found based upon the results of the current study. A study in which both TMS and TES are applied on the same group of horses is needed.
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The research paper examines the use and effectiveness of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in assessing spinal motor function in horses and provides normative data for motor evoked potentials.
Research Background and Methodology
The paper focusses on an in-depth study of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES), highlighted as a more efficient option to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) which was used earlier for assessing the motor functionality of the spinal cord in horses.
A group of healthy horses were subject to TES so as to study its effects and gather standard measure of motor evoked potentials (MEPs).
Two specific muscles, the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and tibial cranialis (TC), were the focal point of this study.
Findings
TES-induced MEP wave characteristics were successfully captured from both ECR and TC muscles. These included significant parameters such as motor latency times (MLTs), amplitude, and waveforms.
The study delivered 95% confidence intervals for MLTs in both ECR (16.1-22.6ms) and TC (31.9-41.1ms) muscles.
Overall, the variation within individuals (Intra-individual CV) and across different horses (Inter-individual CV) for MLTs were found to be less than 10% in all instances.
No significant difference was observed in MLTs on either side, right or left.
The study discovered that MLTs showed significant decrease as the voltage increased
A positive correlation was established between the horse’s height at withers and MLTs in all four muscle groups being studied.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Based on the results from their study, the researchers deemed TES a sensitive, simple to apply, and highly reproducible method of assessing spinal motor function in horses.
The study further established that any reliable assessment of MEP characteristics within the horses needed to be done within a transcranial time window of 15-19 ms.
The paper ended by calling for further studies where both TMS and TES are applied on the same group of horses to establish the superiority and increased efficiency of using TES for assessing spinal motor functions.
Cite This Article
APA
Journée SL, Journée HL, de Bruijn CM, Delesalle CJG.
(2018).
Multipulse transcranial electrical stimulation (TES): normative data for motor evoked potentials in healthy horses.
BMC Vet Res, 14(1), 121.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1447-7
Equine Diagnostics, Tergracht 2A, 9091 BG, Wijns, The Netherlands.
Journée, Henricus Louis
Department of Neurosurgery, University Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. hljournee@gmail.com.
de Bruijn, Cornelis Marinus
Wolvega Equine Clinic, Stellingenweg 10, 8474 EA, Oldeholtpade, The Netherlands.
Delesalle, Cathérine John Ghislaine
Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Brain / physiology
Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
Female
Horses / physiology
Male
Reference Values
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
ETHICS APPROVAL: The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of University of Groningen, The Netherlands under the ethical committee reference DEC6440A, including signed Informed consent from the horse owners. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable for this study. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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