Evaluating motor neuron death in neonatal rats subjected to sciatic nerve lesion.

Neonatal sciatic nerve lesion is a useful experimental model for the study of neuronal cell death. Sciatic nerve transection or crush is the most frequently used approach to evaluate motoneuron loss in the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord. Here we describe and illustrate the surgical procedures performed in our laboratory to assess motoneuron cell death and the related cellular mechanisms.