FIBER REGENERATION IN NERVE GRAFTS WITHOUT CONNECTION TO A TARGET MUSCLE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN RABBITS

In 30 rabbits, both saphenous nerves were harvested as autografts and coapted to the branch for the rectus femoris muscle without connection to any distal target muscle. The graft from the right thigh was led t o the contralateral extremity (crossover grafting). The graft on the l eft side remained on the same extremity (ipsilateral grafting). Animal s were separated into four groups and were sacrificed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after grafting. Specimens of the grafts and the donor motor bra nches were harvested for histomorphometric examination. The number of myelinated nerve fibers in the distal end of the nerve grafts was sign ificantly increasing from 3 to 6 months after grafting and remained on a relatively constant level in the long-term groups. Three months aft er the first operation, greater numbers of myelinated nerve fibers wer e counted after ipsilateral grafting than after crossover grafting. In the long-term groups, this difference could not be observed. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.