GREPAQ_Nerve conduction in OA cats_2025

Feline somatosensory impairments associated with aging and osteoarthritis (OA) can be quantified through quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction (NC). This prospective, randomized study aimed to compare NC in healthy (CTRL, n = 6) and older OA (OLD, n = 12) cats. Under temperature-controlled general anesthesia, amplitude and conduction velocity (CV) of mixed tibial/sciatic and ulnar nerves were measured. Structural (radiographic score), functional [MI-CAT(V)] alterations and neuro-sensitization [paw withdrawal threshold (PWT); response to mechanical temporal summation (RMTS)] were assessed. Data distribution governed tests for inter-group comparison, and outcomes correlation (α = 5%). OLD cats presented higher radiographic and MI-CAT(V) scores, but lower PWT, RMTS, motor CV (–23%), motor (–35%) and sensory (–45%) amplitudes compared to CTRL. A strong positive correlation was observed between functional and structural alterations (r = 0.71, p = 0.001), as well as with age (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) and neuro-sensitization (p < 0.016). Radiographic and MI-CAT(V) scores correlated negatively with (distal) motor CVs (p < 0.044), and with some motor and sensory amplitudes (p < 0.035). The PWTs correlated positively to CVs (p < 0.045). Elderly OA cats exhibited NC alterations, correlated with neuro-sensitization, and higher than expected with age alone.与衰老及骨关节炎（osteoarthritis, OA）相关的家猫体感功能障碍，可通过定量感觉测试（quantitative sensory testing）与神经传导（nerve conduction, NC）进行量化评估。本项前瞻性随机对照研究旨在对比健康对照组（CTRL, n=6）与老年骨关节炎组（OLD, n=12）家猫的神经传导参数。在温控全身麻醉状态下，检测混合神经（胫神经/坐骨神经与尺神经）的波幅与传导速度（conduction velocity, CV）。对其结构（影像学评分）、功能[MI-CAT(V)]及神经致敏性[缩爪阈值（paw withdrawal threshold, PWT）、机械性时间总和反应（response to mechanical temporal summation, RMTS）]的改变进行评估。组间比较采用符合数据分布特征的统计学检验，并开展结局指标相关性分析（检验水准α=5%）。与对照组相比，老年骨关节炎组家猫的影像学评分与MI-CAT(V)评分更高，但其缩爪阈值、机械性时间总和反应、运动传导速度（下降23%）、运动神经波幅（下降35%）与感觉神经波幅（下降45%）均显著更低。功能改变与结构改变间存在显著正相关（r=0.71, p=0.001），同时功能改变亦与年龄（r=0.90, p<0.001）及神经致敏性（p<0.016）呈显著正相关。影像学评分与MI-CAT(V)评分与（远端）运动传导速度（p<0.044）及部分运动、感觉神经波幅（p<0.035）呈负相关。缩爪阈值与传导速度呈正相关（p<0.045）。老年骨关节炎家猫存在神经传导异常，该异常与神经致敏性相关，且其程度远超仅由衰老导致的预期水平。