Influence of different distal nerve degeneration period on peripheral nerve collateral sprouts regeneration.

The effects of the distal nerve degeneration on the regeneration of the collateral sprouts from the proximal nerve stump have been examined. The delayed cross-suture anastomosis technique was used in which the tibial nerve was denervated for 0-8 weeks before cross-suture of the freshly axotomized common peroneal and chronically denervated TIB nerve stumps. There was a remarkable decreasing of the regenerated myelinated axons number after the distal nerve suffered 8 weeks deterioration, suggesting that short-term denervation did not affect the collateral sprouts regeneration but more prolonged denervation profoundly reduced collateral sprouts regenerated in the distal nerve stump.