2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Out Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) is an electrophysiological technique for quantifying the number of motor units, and can be a valuable biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases such as canine degenerative myelopathy. MUNE is determined by dividing the maximum compound muscle action potential by average single motor unit potential (SMUP). In dogs, there has been only one study reporting MUNE, in which an incremental method was used (L Vasquez, 2010) . This method requires very small successive increments of stimuli to collect SMUP; however, not all stimulators have such a function. SMUP is also collected from the F-response, and MUNE using the F-response method does not require small stimulus increments. The F-response method is also free from alternation, which is a major problem with the incremental method.