Abstract
Purpose: :
To verify the contraction of extraocular muscle under electrical stimulation and identify the appropriate stimulation condition to contract the muscle maximally.
Methods: :
About 10mm–long anterior part of superior rectus muscle was exposed after removal of upper lid in rabbit. Platinum double–rod bipolar electrode was inserted under the superior rectus and electrical stimuli with various waveforms, polarity and levels of voltage, pulse duration, interval were delivered.
Results: :
With cathodic monophasic stimulation, most intense contraction was observed. Muscle maintained contraction as long as the current flows, independent of pulse duration or interval. With stronger than 2.0V stimulation, gross contraction occurred and the length of contraction was in proportion to the level of voltage, but in inverse proportion to the distance between the electrodes. Maximal length of contraction was 1.0mm with 5.0V stimulation.
Conclusions: :
Extraocular muscle of rabbit was verified to contract under electrical stimulation. However, further investigation to provoke stronger contraction enough to rotate an eyeball is needed.