[Regenerating axons selectively reinnervate their target organs after the peripheral nerves were tubulated]

This study investigated target specificity during axonal regeneation of a mixed motor and sensory nerve after the canine tibial nerves were tubulated. 10mm gap of tibial nerve was connected by silicone tube. Three months later, the second operation was performed by spinal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) resection at the experimental side. Five months later, histalogical analysis results reveal that the regenerating motor nerve fibre of mixed nerve selectively grew into motor branches. The mean number of regenerated motor nerve fibers grew into its motor branches was 1199, and the number of that into its sensory branch was only 21. This result suggests that regenerating motor and sensory axons of mixed nerve can across 10-mm silicone chamber and be able to select their distal target organs exectly.