In vivo assessment of the Na/K pump functioning

In vivo assessment of the Na/K pump functioning

Rademakers, C.

Van der Helm, F.C.T. (mentor)
De Vlugt, E. (mentor)

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

BioMechanical Engineering

BME

2010-05-31

Assessment of the sodium/potassium (Na/K) pump functioning can play an important role in the early diagnosis of several polyneuropathies. However, currently no method exists that allows in vivo testing of the Na/K pump. Therefore, this study developed a test based on repetitive nerve stimulation at single motor units. In order to evaluate the Na/K pump functioning, measurements were taken at various frequencies. Low frequency stimulation was applied to record the recovery cycle of a single motor unit at which no Na/K pump influence is expected. Stimulation trains of physiological frequency perturbed the Na/K pump and led to hyperpolarization of the membrane potential. Hence hyperpolarization leads to a decreased neural excitability, a threshold change can be recorded. Since both stimulation at physiological and low frequency led to a threshold change, a model was introduced to discriminate the influence of the Na/K pump. During the recordings at physiological stimulation frequency a remarkable phenomenon was noticed which was identified as neural bifurcation.

Na/K pump
repetitive nerve stimulation
recovery cycle
excitability model
neural bifurcation

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8cff793e-a2a4-428b-a4c0-a6480aba7a1c

2010-08-25

Student theses

bachelor thesis

(c) 2010 Rademakers, C.