Biomaterial Database

Sampling schemes for estimating nerve fibre size. I. Methods for nerve trunks of mixed fascicularity. 1984

T M Mayhew, and A K Sharma

Using the tibial nerves of diabetic rats, alternative sampling schemes have been compared for estimating the sizes of fibres in nerve trunks of mixed fascicularity. The merits of each scheme were evaluated by comparing their reliability, precision, cost in time, and efficiency with 'absolute' values obtained by first measuring every fibre. The external diameter of all myelinated fibres was measured in each of six nerves (c. 2900 fibres/nerve). Total measurement time was about 29 hours. All sampling schemes produced group means within +/-4% of the absolute value of 5.52 micron. The most efficient schemes were those in which only 6% of all fibres were selected for measurement. For these the measurement time was 2 hours or less. Results are discussed in the general context of measurement of the sizes of nerve fibres. It is concluded that future studies should place more emphasis on sampling fewer fibres from more animals rather than on measuring all fibres very precisely. These considerations are likely to be of special concern to those wanting to analyse specimens with large fibre complements and those screening large numbers of specimens.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009413	Nerve Fibers, Myelinated	A class of nerve fibers as defined by their structure, specifically the nerve sheath arrangement. The AXONS of the myelinated nerve fibers are completely encased in a MYELIN SHEATH. They are fibers of relatively large and varied diameters. Their NEURAL CONDUCTION rates are faster than those of the unmyelinated nerve fibers (NERVE FIBERS, UNMYELINATED). Myelinated nerve fibers are present in somatic and autonomic nerves.	A Fibers,B Fibers,Fiber, Myelinated Nerve,Fibers, Myelinated Nerve,Myelinated Nerve Fiber,Myelinated Nerve Fibers,Nerve Fiber, Myelinated
D011919	Rats, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding.	August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D003584	Cytological Techniques	Methods used to study CELLS.	Cytologic Technics,Cytological Technic,Cytological Technics,Cytological Technique,Technic, Cytological,Technics, Cytological,Technique, Cytological,Techniques, Cytological,Cytologic Technic,Technic, Cytologic,Technics, Cytologic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013979	Tibial Nerve	The medial terminal branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve fibers originate in lumbar and sacral spinal segments (L4 to S2). They supply motor and sensory innervation to parts of the calf and foot.	Medial Plantar Nerve,Posterior Tibial Nerve,Medial Plantar Nerves,Nerve, Medial Plantar,Nerve, Posterior Tibial,Nerve, Tibial,Nerves, Medial Plantar,Nerves, Posterior Tibial,Nerves, Tibial,Plantar Nerve, Medial,Plantar Nerves, Medial,Posterior Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerve, Posterior,Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerves, Posterior
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus