A simple method for the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular blockade in mice

• Published in: Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods Vol. 27; no. 3; p. 129
• Main Authors: Lefebvre, H P, Cardona, A, Toutain, P L, Morel, E, Bach, J F, Vernet-der-Garabedian, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1992
• Subjects: Action Potentials - drug effects; Alcuronium - pharmacology; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Bungarotoxins - pharmacology; Electric Stimulation; Electrodes; Electromyography - methods; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents - pharmacology; Neuromuscular Junction - drug effects; Neuromuscular Junction - physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Succinylcholine - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1056-8719
• DOI: 10.1016/1056-8719(92)90033-W

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and noninvasive method for the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular blockade in mice. The sciatic nerve in anesthetized animals (etomidate, 50 mg/kg or mephenesin, 250 mg/kg) was stimulated using transcutaneous electrodes; repetitive supramaximal stimulations (3 Hz during 3.3 sec) were applied each minute until recovery or death occurred. Evoked action potentials of the gastrocnemius muscle were recorded. The effect of each pharmacological agent was expressed as the ratio (S5/S1) of the area of the fifth response (S5) to the first one (S1). The performance of the method was tested using neuromuscular blocking agents such as alcuronium, suxamethonium, or alpha-bungarotoxin. It was concluded that the method exhibits the required statistical performances (sensitivity, repeatability, and specificity) to be recommended for in vivo investigation of neuromuscular impairment.