Functional studies on sciatic nerve blood flow in respect to its vascular supply and tonic neural activity

An introduction of laser now meters for a continuous measurements of a tiss ue blood flow has opened new avenues for an accurate assessment blood flow in peripheral nerves. The aim of our study was: 1) to carry out a functiona l verification of anatomical sources of a sciatic nerve blood supply in the rat; 2) develop a measurement technique to facilitate standardisation of r esults; 3) to determine the role of nerve fibres tonic activity in the main tenance of a resting blood flow in the sciatic nerve. Based on results of t he present study the following conclusions have been drawn out: 1) in order to obtain a real values of the blood flow through the sciatic nerve it is necessary to remove its muscular fascia; 2) an uninjured epineurium plays a crucial role in maintaining the resting blood flow; 3) major blood supply of sciatic nerve comes from inferior gluteal and popliteal arteries; 4) the tonic neural activity plays a role in the maintenance of the resting sciat ic nerve blood flow in anaesthetised rats.