Experimental research on regenerating nerve fiber source after nerve end-to-side anastomosis

Objective To explore origin of regernerative nerve after end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats. Methods 14adult female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups.(1)experimental group:The distal end of left transected peroneal nerve was sutured to windowed tibial nerve in end-to-side fashion in all14rats.(2)normal group(n=7):The right peroneal nerve was left intact.(3)non-anastomosis group(n=7):The right peroneal nerve was transected and both ends were ligated and kept apart by suturing theminto near muscles.Seven months after surgery,electrophysiological test?histology test and horseradish peroxidase(HRP)retrograde trace test were used. Results Mwaves were induced in tibialis anterior muscles in exˉperimental group rats,While in non-anastomosis group,there were noMwaves induced.There were a good many myelinated nerve fibers in distal peroneal nerve in experimental group rats,but in non-anastomosis group rats,there were not nerve fibers.The number of tibial nerve fibers proximal and distal to stoma had no significant difference in experimental group rats.HRP found slight marked neurocytes in L2-5spinal ganglion in experimental group rats,while there were deep marked neurocytes in L2-5spinal ganglion in normal group rats and no marked neurocytes in non-anastomosis group rats. Conclusions Nerve fibers could regenerate after end-to-side neurorrhaphy.Regenerating nerve fibers could come from donor nerve lateral sprouting.