Abstract: Objective To observe the changes of neural blood flow when oppressed with different pressures and at different sites in rat's sciatic nerve.MethodsThe sciatic nerve compression model of rat with pressure and time controlled simultaneously was established.The changes of neural blood flow were observed by oppressing the sciatic nerve with five grades pressures using Gasbag.The rats were randomly divided into the distal compression group and proximal compression group,and the changes of neural blood flow were observed in each group.ResultsThe neural blood flow changed significantly(P<0.05) when the sciatic nerve was oppressed with different pressures and it had the decreasing tendency with the pressures increasing.The neural blood flow of each group decreased obviously(P<0.01).The effect of oppressing distal nerve on neural blood flow was more obvious than that of oppressing proximal nerve(P<0.01).ConclusionMechanical compression can influence the neural blood flow obviously.The distal vessels of sciatic nerve are the major sources of nerve blood supply.

Key words: sciatic nerve, neural blood flow, laser Doppler flowmetry, nerve compression model