The induction of a regenerative propensity in sensory neurons following peripheral axonal injury

Injury of the peripheral axons of primary sensory neurons has been previously shown to increase the probability that the corresponding central axons would grow from the injured spinal cord into a peripheral nerve graft. This phenomenon has been used to investigate the nature of extrinsic cues from injured nerves that enhanced regenerative propensity within sensory neurons. In 13 groups of rats, a segment of the right sciatic nerve was grafted to the dorsal columns of the spinal cord and the left sciatic nerve was subjected to mechanical injury, injection of colchicine or infusion of nerve growth factor. Subsequently, neurons in lumbar dorsal root ganglia with axons growing from the spinal cord into a graft were identified by retrograde perikaryal labelling and compared for the two sides. The aim was to mimic or modify the inductive effect of nerve transaction by alternative or additional manipulation of the nerve. Growth of central axons was less enhanced by peripheral axonal interruption if the length of the proximal stump was increased or if a distal stump was present to permit rapid regeneration. However, the regenerative response following nerve transection was altered little by crushing the proximal stump or injecting it with colchicine or nerve growth factor. It is suggested that sensory neurons are stimulated to regenerate by peripheral axonal injuries that reduce some normal retrograde regulatory influence of Schwann cells.