Differentiation of peripheral nerve functions and properties with spectral analysis and Karnovsky-Roots staining: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility for analyzing and differentiating between motor and sensory functions of peripheral nerve axons using spectral technology. METHODS 10 μm slide section of S1 anterior and posterior rabbit spinal nerve roots were made and then stained with Karnovsky-Roots method for molecular hyperspectral imaging microscopy analysis. In addition, Raman spectra data of nerve axons on each slide was collected after Karnovsky-Roots staining for 30 minutes. RESULTS Motor axons were differentiated from sensory axons in a nerve axon section hyperspectral image via Spectral angle mapper algorithm. Raman scatterings could be detected near 2110 cm(-1), and 2155 cm(-1) in motor axons after Karnvosky-Roots staining. The value of I2100/I1440 in motor axons are significantly different (P0.001) than in sensory axons after staining for 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS Motor and sensory nerve axons can be differentiated from their counterparts in 30 minutes by using Raman micro-spectroscopy analysis assisted with Karnovsky-Roots staining.