不同条件下添加牛膝多糖对断奶仔猪肠道吸收功能的影响

为研究牛膝多糖对正常条件和应激条件(脂多糖刺激)下的断奶仔猪肠道吸收功能的影响。试验采用28日龄,三元(杜×长×大)杂交断奶仔猪48头,随机分为4组(每个处理12个重复,每个重复1头猪):空白组Ⅰ饲喂基础日粮,对照组Ⅱ饲喂基础日粮+LPS应激,试验组Ⅲ饲喂基础日粮+0.10%牛膝多糖+LPS应激,试验组Ⅳ饲喂基础日粮+0.10%牛膝多糖;试验期第16d,对照组Ⅱ和试验组Ⅲ的仔猪分别腹膜注射80μg/mL·BW脂多糖(LPS),空白组注射相应剂量的灭菌生理盐水。试验期第16d注射LPS后,按lmL/kg.BW对所有仔猪口腔灌服10%D-木糖溶液,lh后前腔静脉采血,测定血浆D-木糖含量。所得结果:空白组Ⅰ中血浆D-木糖含量显著高于试验组Ⅱ(P<0.05),试验组Ⅳ的血浆D-木糖含量显著高于试验组Ⅲ(P<0.05)。由此可推断,LPS刺激可使仔猪肠道吸收能力明显减弱。与空白组Ⅰ相比,添加了0.10%牛膝多糖组Ⅳ的血浆D-木糖含量提高,差异极其显著(P<0.01)。与对照组Ⅱ相比,试验组Ⅲ与Ⅳ的血浆D-木糖含量均提高,差异极其显著(P<0.01),这表明,饲喂添加牛膝多糖饲料,在一定程度上缓解了LPS刺激所导致的肠道吸收功能下降。     

酵母多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、免疫功能和肠道菌群的影响

文章旨在探讨断奶仔猪日粮中添加酵母多糖对其生长性能、免疫功能和肠道菌群的影响。试验选取21日龄断奶的断奶仔猪(杜×长×大)72头,随机分为3组,每组24头仔猪,分4个猪圈饲养,每个猪圈6头仔猪。3组分别饲喂基础日粮(对照组),基础日粮中添加金霉素(抗生素组),基础日粮中添加酵母多糖(酵母多糖组),试验为期28 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,抗生素和酵母多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪的平均日增重和平均日采食量(P0.05),且具有降低断奶仔猪腹泻率的趋势(P=0.069);与对照组和抗生素组相比,酵母多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪血清中Ig M水平(P0.05),但对Ig A和Ig G水平无显著性影响(P0.05);饲料中添加抗生素组和酵母多糖可以显著降低断奶仔猪盲肠中大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量(P0.05),但与抗生素组相比,酵母多糖显著提高了盲肠中双歧杆菌和乳酸杆菌的数量(P0.05)。综上所述,日粮中添加酵母多糖可以显著提高断奶仔猪的生产性能,降低腹泻率,抑制肠道有害菌的生长,具有良好的替抗效果。     

不同纤维来源饲粮和细胞壁降解酶对猪肠道微生物菌群多样性的影响

本试验旨在利用末端限制性片段长度多态性技术研究不同纤维来源饲粮和细胞壁降解酶对猪肠道微生物菌群多样性及其组成结构的影响。试验选用8头平均体重为(35.0±2.5)kg的"杜×长×大"三元杂交生长猪,统一安装回肠末端T型瘘管,随机分为4组,每组2个重复。试验分4期,每期每组猪按4×4拉丁方设计饲喂小麦麸、小麦麸加酶、大豆皮和大豆皮加酶4种试验饲粮之一。每期预试期15 d,正试期6 d。试验结果表明:1)大豆皮饲粮组猪回肠食糜微生物的多样性显著高于小麦麸饲粮组(P0.05)。2)小麦麸饲粮组显著提高猪回肠食糜中普氏菌属(Prevotella)和乳酸杆菌属(Lactobacillus)的丰度(P0.05),而大豆皮饲粮组则显著提高猪回肠食糜中瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcus)及粪便中拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)、毛螺菌属(Lachnospira)的丰度(P0.05)。3)添加细胞壁降解酶显著提高各饲粮组猪回肠食糜中Lachnospira、真细菌属(Eubacterium)及粪便中Lachnospira的丰度(P0.05),但也同时降低了回肠食糜中Lactobacillus、Prevotella及粪便中Lactobacillus、Bacteroides和克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)的丰度(P0.05)。综上所述,纤维饲粮可显著提高猪肠道内非淀粉多糖降解菌的丰度,而细胞壁降解酶则可选择性改变肠道微生物菌群的多样性及其组成。     

酵母壁多糖对断奶仔猪外周血免疫和肠道免疫的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮中添加酵母壁多糖对断奶仔猪外周血免疫和肠道免疫的影响。采用单因素试验设计方法,选取21日龄遗传胎次、体重接近的断奶仔猪180头,随机分为4个组,每组5个重复,每个重复9头猪。4组分别饲喂饲粮中添加0(对照组)、0.15%、0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖的试验饲粮。试验期21 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.15%、0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量(P0.05),饲粮中添加0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.15%、0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著降低了断奶仔猪血清干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)含量(P0.05),饲粮中添加0.30%酵母壁多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪血清白细胞介素-10(IL-10)的含量(P0.05)。饲粮中添加酵母壁多糖对断奶仔猪血清白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量均无显著影响(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著提高了断奶仔猪回肠CD4~+淋巴细胞含量(P0.05),饲粮中添加酵母壁多糖能一定程度提高断奶仔猪回肠CD8~+和CD20~+淋巴细胞含量,但差异不显著(P0.05)。由此可知,酵母壁多糖能一定程度提高断奶仔猪外周血免疫和肠道免疫,缓解断奶应激。     

植物乳杆菌和非淀粉多糖复合酶对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便微生物菌群及血清指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)和非淀粉多糖(NSP)复合酶对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便微生物菌群及血清指标的影响,从而达到代替抗生素的目的。试验采用单因素完全随机设计,选择28日龄健康断奶仔猪192头,平均体重为(7.15±0.36)kg,随机分为4个组,每组6个重复,每个重复8头猪。对照组(CT组)饲喂在基础饲粮中添加40 mg/kg杆菌肽锌的饲粮;试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加1 g/kg植物乳杆菌(PT组)、1 g/kg NSP复合酶(ZT组)、1 g/kg植物乳杆菌+1 g/kg NSP复合酶(PZT组)的饲粮。试验期35 d。结果表明:1)各组间断奶仔猪的试验末重、平均日增重、平均日采食量及料重比均无显著差异(P0.05)。2)各组间断奶仔猪粪便中乳酸菌数量、大肠杆菌数量及乳酸菌/大肠杆菌均无显著差异(P0.05)。但与对照组相比,PZT组断奶仔猪粪便中乳酸菌数量和乳酸菌/大肠杆菌有增加趋势(0.05≤P0.10),大肠杆菌数量有降低趋势(0.05≤P0.10)。3)各组间断奶仔猪的血清生化指标、免疫指标均无显著差异(P0.05)。由此可知,饲粮中复合添加植物乳杆菌和NSP复合酶可促进肠道菌群平衡,有益于仔猪健康生长,从而达到替代抗生素的目的。     

饲用凝结芽孢杆菌对感染产肠毒素大肠杆菌K88断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道健康的影响

本文旨在研究饲用凝结芽孢杆菌对感染产肠毒素大肠杆菌(ETEC) K88断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道菌群、形态及细胞因子表达的影响。试验选用32头25日龄断奶的健康"杜×长×大"商品公猪,按照初始体重一致原则分成4个组,每组8个重复,单笼饲养。ETEC K88感染前7 d,2个组饲喂基础饲粮(BD组),另外2个组饲喂在基础饲粮中添加1.0×10~7CFU/g凝结芽孢杆菌的饲粮(PD组)。第8天起,开展2×2双因素试验,4个组设计如下:1) NCH+BD组,口服生理盐水、饲喂基础饲粮;2) NCH+PD组,口服生理盐水、饲喂添加凝结芽孢杆菌饲粮;3) CH+BD组,口服ETEC K88、饲喂基础饲粮;4) CH+PD组,口服ETEC K88、饲喂添加凝结芽孢杆菌饲粮。试验猪口服5 mL ETEC K88(活菌数1.0×10~9CFU/mL)或5 mL 0.9%生理盐水,持续3 d。试验用凝结芽孢杆菌是经体外牛津杯法确定的1株对ETEC K88具有良好抑菌效果的菌株,添加量1.0×10~7CFU/g。试验第11天,取仔猪空肠、回肠、盲肠及食糜样本,测定肠道菌群、形态及细胞因子表达量。结果表明:1)ETEC K88感染处理显著降低断奶仔猪平均日增重和平均日采食量、空肠和盲肠食糜中乳酸杆菌数量、空肠和回肠绒毛高度以及空肠黏膜白细胞介素-10(IL-10)mRNA表达量(P0.05);同时,显著提高断奶仔猪料重比和腹泻指数、空肠和盲肠食糜中大肠杆菌数量、空肠和回肠隐窝深度以及空肠黏膜白细胞介素-6(IL-6) mRNA表达量(P0.05)。2)饲用凝结芽孢杆菌处理显著提高断奶仔猪平均日增重和平均日采食量、空肠和盲肠食糜中乳酸杆菌数量、空肠和回肠绒毛高度以及空肠黏膜IL-10 mRNA表达量(P0.05);同时,显著降低断奶仔猪料重比和腹泻指数、空肠和盲肠食糜中大肠杆菌数量、空肠和回肠隐窝深度以及空肠黏膜IL-6 mRNA表达量(P0.05)。3)除腹泻指数外,ETEC K88感染处理与饲用凝结芽孢杆菌处理之间对其他指标均无显著互作效应(P0.05)。结果提示,无论是否ETEC K88感染处理,饲用凝结芽孢杆菌均可通过平衡肠道菌群、维持肠道正常形态和缓解肠道炎症反应,改善断奶仔猪生长性能。     

复合益生菌对断奶仔猪生长性能及肠道菌群的影响

本文旨在研究益生菌凝结芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌组合运用对断奶仔猪生长性能及肠道菌群的影响。选取54头25 日龄健康的断奶仔猪分成2个处理组,每个处理组27头。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组饲喂基础日粮添加复合益生菌（凝结芽孢杆菌800 g/t垣枯草芽孢杆菌400 g/t）。通过体外牛津杯试验评估凝结芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌组合对断奶仔猪肠道致病大肠杆菌K88的抑菌性能,确定凝结芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌在饲粮中最佳的添加比例。试验第8d,仔猪盲肠食糜 取样,测定盲肠肠道菌群。试验结果显示,饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌能够显著（P＜0.05）降低断奶仔猪料肉比和腹泻率;同时,显著增加（P＜0.05）断奶仔猪盲肠中乳酸杆菌的数量,显著降低（P＜0.05）断奶仔猪盲肠中大肠杆 菌的数量。以上结果表明,饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌能够抑制肠道中有害菌大肠杆菌的数量,增加肠道菌群有益菌乳酸杆菌数量,改善断奶仔猪生长性能。     

饲粮添加银耳多糖对断奶仔猪肠道健康的影响

本文旨在研究银耳多糖(TP)对断奶仔猪肠道健康的调节作用。试验选取20头遗传背景一致、健康状况良好、胎次和体重接近的21日龄断奶仔猪,随机分为对照组(饲喂基础饲粮)和TP组(基础饲粮中添加0.4%TP),每个处理10个重复,每个重复1头猪。预饲期3 d,试验期为21 d。试验结果 :与对照组相比,TP组仔猪肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值显著提高(P 0.05),仔猪空肠隐窝深度有降低趋势(P=0.083),仔猪空肠淀粉酶、脂肪酶和乳糖酶活性显著提高(P 0.05),仔猪盲肠食糜总菌和大肠杆菌数量显著降低(P 0.05)。以上研究表明,日粮补充0.4%的银耳多糖可显著改善断奶仔猪空肠形态、提高空肠黏膜消化酶活性,调节仔猪盲肠菌群结构,促进肠道健康发育。     

植物多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能及肠道内环境的影响

本试验旨在探讨断奶仔猪饲粮中单独或联合添加黄芪多糖、白术多糖和牛膝多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能及肠道内环境的影响。试验选取256头35日龄的杜×长×大三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为8个组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头猪。采用三因素两水平(2×2×2)试验设计,饲粮中黄芪多糖、白术多糖和牛膝多糖的添加水平设置为0和800 mg/kg,试验共进行28 d。结果表明:1)在断奶仔猪饲粮中单独或两两联合添加黄芪多糖、白术多糖和牛膝多糖有提高断奶仔猪平均日增重的趋势(P0.05),3种多糖联合使用能显著提高断奶仔猪平均日增重(P0.05),各组之间料重比无显著差异(P0.05)。断奶仔猪饲粮中单独添加黄芪多糖、白术多糖和牛膝多糖均能显著降低断奶仔猪的腹泻率(P0.05),多糖之间存在一定互作效应。2)与对照组相比,单独或联合添加多糖组断奶仔猪回肠、直肠内容物的p H无显著变化(P0.05),盲肠和结肠内容物p H显著降低(P0.05),3种多糖联合添加对盲肠内容物p H有互作效应(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,单独或联合添加多糖组断奶仔猪盲肠内容物总挥发性脂肪酸含量均显著上升(P0.05),三者联合的效果显著优于单独添加(P0.05)。4)在断奶仔猪饲粮中单独或联合添加植物多糖均能显著提高肠道内乳酸菌和双歧杆菌的数量(P0.05),多糖两两组合组与单一添加组相比肠道内乳酸菌和双歧杆菌的数量有增加趋势,但差异不显著(P0.05),单独或联合添加多糖能显著降低肠道中大肠杆菌的数量(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮添加黄芪多糖、白术多糖和牛膝多糖可改善其肠道内环境,降低仔猪腹泻,从而改善断奶仔猪的生长性能,且以三者联合添加效果最佳。     

饲粮中添加香菇多糖对断奶大鼠生长性能、抗氧化能力和肠道健康的影响

本研究旨在探讨饲粮中添加香菇多糖对断奶大鼠生长性能、抗氧化能力和肠道健康的影响。试验选取20只健康的断奶Wistar大鼠,按照体重相近的原则分为2个组(每组10只),分别饲喂基础饲粮和添加了84 mg/kg香菇多糖(香菇多糖有效含量为30%)的试验饲粮。试验期为21 d。结果表明:饲粮中添加84 mg/kg香菇多糖显著提高了断奶大鼠的平均日增重和平均日采食量(P0.05),显著降低了料重比(P0.05);饲粮中添加84 mg/kg香菇多糖显著提高了断奶大鼠血清和空肠的总抗氧化能力(P0.05),不同程度降低了血清(P0.05)和空肠(P=0.08)丙二醛含量;饲粮中添加84 mg/kg香菇多糖显著提高了断奶大鼠空肠黏膜绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度(P0.05);此外,饲粮添加84 mg/kg香菇多糖提高了断奶大鼠盲肠食糜中乳酸菌的数量(P=0.07),显著降低了盲肠食糜中大肠杆菌的数量(P0.05),并显著提高了盲肠食糜中乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和总挥发性脂肪酸的含量(P0.05)。综上所述,在断奶大鼠饲粮中添加84 mg/kg香菇多糖(香菇多糖有效含量为30%)可以改善其抗氧化能力、空肠黏膜形态结构和盲肠菌群结构,进而提高生长性能。     

Anaesthesia and analgesia of the donkey and the mule

The number of donkeys and mules throughout the world is stable, and awareness of their use and concern for welfare, pain recognition and treatment are receiving increasing veterinary interest. Therefore, accurate information about anaesthesia and analgesia in donkeys and mules is important to ever more equine practitioners. Since donkeys are physiologically and pharmacologically different from horses, knowledge on species specific aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia are very important. Mules combine elements from both donkey and horse backgrounds, leading to great diversity in size, temperament and body type. Physiologically, they seem to resemble horses more than donkeys. This review highlights the current knowledge on various anaesthetic and analgesic approaches in donkeys and mules. There is still much information that is not available about donkeys; in many circumstances, the clinician must use available equine information to treat the patient, while monitoring carefully to observe for differences in response to therapy compared to the horse.     

Ultrasonographic examination of the caecum and the proximal and spiral ansa of the colon of cattle

The large intestine of 10 cows was examined from the right abdominal wall with a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. The cows were then slaughtered, and the organs were re-examined in a water bath. The caecum was visualised from the middle region of the abdominal wall. It ran caudo-cranially, varied in diameter from 5.2 to 18.0 cm and was situated immediately adjacent to the abdominal wall. The lateral wall of the caecum appeared as a thick, echogenic, crescent-shaped line. It could be visualised as far cranially as the 12th intercostal space. Although its junction could not be identified, the proximal ansa of the colon was recognised on the basis of its anatomical position and its diameter, which was smaller than that of the caecum. The spiral ansa of the colon and the descending colon were situated dorsal to the caecum and could be identified by moving the transducer horizontally along the abdominal wall to the last rib. The spiral ansa of the colon was situated ventral to the descending colon, and its walls appeared as thick echogenic lines. In a contracted state, the spiral colon had the appearance of a garland.     

The behavior and the husbandry conditions of small laboratory animals--possibilities and limits of the evaluation of the appropriateness and fairness of the treatment of animals

Ethological studies are important means to evaluate the behaviour of small laboratory animals (mouse, rat, guinea-pig and rabbit) and their housing conditions. At any rate, the only sparse range of body expressions, the smallness and preference of night activity of these animals and the erratic occurrence of essential behaviour patterns make the investigations more difficult. On the other hand, the standardization of laboratory housing and the genetic definition of these animals turn out to be favourable. By this way, behaviour-environment-relationships are suitable for evaluation. Taking into consideration methodical and biological restrictions, the specific activities such as fight, relaxed resting behaviour and play as well as unbalanced behaviour patterns and stereotypes can be taken as means of evaluation. Particularly in mice and rabbits, upright position and space consuming activities will be possibly restricted by cage sizes.     

Effects of age and diet on the development of the pancreas and the synthesis and secretion of pancreatic enzymes in the young pig

Effects of age and diet composition on amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in the pancreas and intestinal contents, pancreas weights and body weights were determined from birth to 56 d. A total of 120 pigs, five to seven pigs/litter from 18 litters, were slaughtered at birth, 14, 27, 29, 31, 42 and 56 d. Litters were allotted to dietary treatments (corn-soy, A; corn-soy + 20% dried whey, B; corn-soy + 5% lard, C) and offered these diets as creep feed at 14 d. All pigs were weaned at 28 d, placed in elevated nursery pens and fed their respective diets. Total activities of amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin in the pancreas and small intestine increased (P less than .05) with age. Both trypsin and amylase activities, measured per kilogram body weight or gram pancreas weight, were low at 29 d in the intestine and increased to 56 d. Pigs on diet B had the highest level of trypsin and chymotrypsin in the intestinal contents (P less than .05). Trypsin activity in the pancreas (units/kg body weight) was lowest (P less than .05) for pigs on diet B and highest (P less than .05) for those on diet C (units/g pancreas and units/kg body weight). Amylase activity (units/kg body weight) was lower (P less than .05) in the pancreas for pigs on diet B than for those on diets A and C. Pigs on diet A had lower (P less than .01) intestinal amylase activities than those on diets B and C. Enzyme activities in the intestinal contents and pancreas were low following weaning. In the pancreas, activities decreased at 31 d.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relation between the concentration of sodium and potassium in the erythrocytes of dairy cows and the concentration of these elements in the plasma and urine and the level of blood glucose

Blood and urine samples of 180 dairy cows from 12 herds were examined. Sodium and potassium concentrations were determined in erythrocytes, whole blood, plasma, urine, and glucose concentration in blood: the interrelations were compared. Sodium and potassium concentrations in erythrocytes were 85.15 +/- 11.45 mmol/l, and 25.93 +/- 7.81 mmol/l, respectively. A statistically significant relation was found between sodium and potassium concentrations in erythrocytes (r = 0.3467+++) and the content of electrolyte in blood cells and in whole blood (Na: r = 0.5336+++; K: r = 0.3561+++). No statistically significant relation of intraerythrocyte concentration of both electrolytes was confirmed with respect to the other characteristics (sodium and potassium concentrations in plasma and urine, and glucose concentration in blood). In the conditions of routine laboratory diagnostics in clinically healthy cows, determinations of intraerythrocyte sodium and potassium do not broaden possibilities of evaluating the metabolic state of these electrolytes and cannot be used as the characteristics of energy insufficiency. The cannot replace the analyses performed in serum and urine.     

Liquid flow and capacity of the caecum and colon of the horse

The rate of flow of fluid from the caecum and from the large colon was measured in four Shetland-type ponies fed a hay diet. In two ponies with cannulas in the caecum and at the origin of the right ventral colon, a continuous intracaecal infusion of a solution of chromium EDTA was used and samples were obtained from the cannula at the origin of the right ventral colon. Based on four determinations, the liquid flow from the caecum was 54.2 +/- 1.89 litres d-1. In the other two ponies with cannulas in the origin of the right ventral colon and near the end of the right dorsal colon, a continuous infusion of chromium EDTA was made into the right ventral colon and samples were obtained from the right dorsal colon. The flow rate towards the end of the dorsal colon was 49.4 +/- 1.25 litres d-1, based on four determinations. The capacities of the caecum and large colon after death were 7.0 +/- 0.8 and 17.7 +/- 3.7 litres, respectively.     

貉,蓝狐,银狐的胃及十二指肠内嗜银细胞形态分布的研究

本文应用Ｆｏｒｔａｎａ—Ｍａｓｓｏｎ嗜银颗粒染色法研究了貉、蓝狐、银狐的胃及十二指肠内嗜银细胞的形态分布。结果表明：三种动物胃幽门腺中，嗜根细胞数量最多，呈锥状，嗜银颗粒较粗，密度大、染成深黑色。在胃底及胃贲门腺区、嗜银细胞数量少。在十二指肠部嗜银细胞呈蝌蚪形，嗜银颗粒细，呈黑褐色，密度较小。嗜银细胞的分布密度在三种动物中具有一定的差别。     

Conduction velocities and reflexes of the proximal and distal parts of the saphenous nerve of the dog

The maximal conduction velocities of compound-action potentials in the proximal and distal parts of the saphenous nerve were determined by averaging potentials evoked and recorded through needle electrodes. Antidromic, triphasic compound-action potentials unipolarly recorded from the distal part of the saphenous nerve were of the same minimal latency as potentials having 4 phases which were recorded bipolarly from the same site. However, the unipolarly recorded potentials were of greater amplitude. Monophasic compound-action potentials were recorded through bipolar chlorided silver electrodes from the surface of fascicles of the distal part of the saphenous nerve. The maximal conduction velocity of these potentials was in agreement with the conduction velocity of compound-action potentials of the distal part of the saphenous nerve which were evoked and recorded through subcutaneous needle electrodes. The specificities of the stimulating and recording sites were verified by recording before and after the saphenous nerve was cut between the stimulating and recording sites. Mean conduction velocities were 62.3 +/- 2.0 m/s for the distal part of the saphenous nerve and 66.3 +/- 2.2 m/s for the proximal part of the saphenous nerve. Reflex-evoked muscle activity was elicited in the ipsilateral tensor muscle of the fascia lata and semimembranous muscle after electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve through subcutaneous needle electrodes. The effects of various stimulus intensities on the latency and duration of these reflex-evoked muscle potentials were determined.