Growth of optic tract axons in nerve grafts in hamsters

Segments of peripheral nerve, transplanted to the brain or spinal cord, recently have been shown to support regeneration of axons from a variety of central neurons. However, long-tract axons, injured at considerable distances from their cell bodies, have proven refractory to such regenerative support. This report presents evidence for successful, although similarly limited, growth of retinal ganglion cell axons into peripheral nerve grafts placed in the optic tract of adult hamsters. The demonstration of such growth allows the possibility that the primary visual pathways may serve as an advantageous model system in which to study the mechanism of graft-effected regeneration of long-tract axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system.