Effective Parameters for Gait Analysis in Experimental Models for Evaluating Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Rats

Author(s)

Matias Junior, Ivair ^[1] ; Medeiros, Priscila ^{[2, 3]} ; de Freita, Renato Leonardo ^{[2, 4, 5]} ; Vicente-Cesar, Hilton ^[6] ; Ferreira Junior, Jose Raniery ^[6] ; Machado, Helio Rubens ^[1] ; Menezes-Reis, Rafael ^{[6, 7]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Surg & Anat, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Neurosci & Behav Sci, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Neurol Div, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Psychol, Sch Philosophy Sci & Literature Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[5] Fed Univ Alfenas UNIFAL MG, Biomed Sci Inst, Str Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, Alfenas, MG - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Imaging Sci & Med Phys, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biomech Med & Rehabil Locomotor Apparat, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NEUROSPINE; v. 16, n. 2, p. 305-316, JUN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Objective: Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve is a peripheral nerve injury widely used to induce mononeuropathy. This study used machine learning methods to identify the best gait analysis parameters for evaluating peripheral nerve injuries. Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats (weighing 270 +/- 10 g), were used in the present study and divided into the following 4 groups: CCI with 4 ligatures around the sciatic nerve (CCI-4L; n = 7), a modified CCI model with 1 ligature (CCI-1L; n = 7), a sham group (n = 7), and a healthy control group (n = 7). All rats underwent gait analysis 7 and 28 days postinjury. The data were evaluated using Kinovea and WeKa software (machine learning and neural networks). Results: In the machine learning analysis of the experimental groups, the pre-swing (PS) angle showed the highest ranking in all 3 analyses (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve using the Naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbors, radial basis function classifiers). Initial contact (IC), step length, and stride length also performed well. Between 7 and 28 days after injury, there was an increase in the total course time, step length, stride length, stride speed, and IC, and a reduction in PS and IC-PS. Statistically significant differences were found between the control group and experimental groups for all parameters except speed. Interactions between time after injury and nerve injury type were only observed for IC, PS, and IC-PS. Conclusion: PS angle of the ankle was the best gait parameter for differentiating nonlesions from nerve injuries and different levels of injury. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/07902-2 - Role of endocannabinoid, glutamatergic and endovanilloid systems of medial prefrontal cortex in neuropathic pain model and investigation of neurological disorders and chronic pain comorbidity
• Grantee: Renato Leonardo de Freitas
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 13/12916-0 - Role of endocannabinoid, glutamatergic and endovanilloid systems of medial prefrontal cortex in neuropathic pain model and investigation of neurological disorders and chronic pain comorbidity
• Grantee: Renato Leonardo de Freitas
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11869-0 - Multi-use equipment approved in grant 2013/12916-0: deep brain stimulation (DBS) (Thomas mini matrix system - Thomas recording GmbH® - Winchester Strasse - Giessen - Germany)
• Grantee: Renato Leonardo de Freitas
• Support type: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 13/10543-1 - Prospective clinical study neuroplasticity NEUROPLASTICY motor carrier of epilepsy in children refractory under treatment neurosurgical HEMISFERIC
• Grantee: Ivair Matias Junior
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 09/17258-5 - Study of the involvement of nitrergic system and of glutamatergic and cannabinoid-mediated neurotransmission from the medial prefrontal cortex in the analgesia induced by elaborated escape reactions evoked by GABAergic blockade in the medial hypothalamus
• Grantee: Renato Leonardo de Freitas
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/25167-2 - Role of glutamatergic, endocannabinoid and endovaniloid systems of medial pre-frontal cortex in neurophatic pain model: investigation of panic and chronic pain comorbidity
• Grantee: Priscila de Medeiros
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate