[Modification of degenerative and regenerative processes in peripheral nerves by treatment with B vitamins]

Degenerative and regenerative changes in the saphenous nerve of the rabbit following systemic treatment with either a combination of the vitamins B1, B6 and B12 or physiological saline solution were investigated. Cold lesion of the nerve (-196 degrees C), which led to an optimal axonotmesis, was used to cause a secondary degeneration. The nerves were removed and investigated by light and electron microscopy after 4, 10 and 21 days. Morphological results show that the number of regenerating axons is higher and that of degenerating axons lower in the group treated with the given doses of vitamins than in the comparable control group. An explanation of the underlying metabolic processes is as yet not possible. Further investigations considering the contribution of the individual vitamins to the enhancement of degenerative and regenerative processes are necessary. Clinical indications of neurotoxicity due to the dose levels used here were not observed.