Non-invasive imaging of single human motor units.

Clin Neurophysiol

Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute (NUTCRI), Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.

Published: June 2020

Objective: To determine the size, shape and distribution of single human motor units in-vivo in healthy controls of different ages.

Methods: A novel diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was used in combination with in-scanner electrical stimulation to quantify the shape, cross-sectional area, and dimensions of individual motor units in 10 healthy subjects.

Results: Thirty-one discrete motor units were studied. The majority were elliptical or crescent shaped, but occasional split motor units were observed. The mean motor unit cross sectional area was 26.7 ± 11.2 mm, the mean maximum dimension was 10.7 ± 3.3 mm, and the mean minimum dimension was 4.5 ± 1.2 mm. Subjects aged over 40 had significantly larger maximum dimensions than those below this age (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Motor unit MRI (MUMRI) is a novel technique capable of revealing the size, shape and position of multiple motor units in human muscles. It is reproducible, non-invasive, and sufficiently sensitive to detect physiologically relevant changes in motor unit morphology with age.

Significance: To our knowledge, these results provide the first imaging assessment of human motor unit morphology. The technique shows promise both as a diagnostic tool and as a biomarker in longitudinal studies of disease progression.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7208543PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2020.02.004DOI Listing

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