CUTANEOUS NERVE DISTRIBUTION IN ADULT-RAT HAIRY SKIN AFTER THERMAL-INJURY - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Regrowth of cutaneous nerves after thermal injury was examined in rat hairy skin with use of protein gene product 9.5, which has been shown to label nerves in skin preparations. Tissue biopsies were obtained fr om injured and control skin at post burn days 1, 7, 14, 28, and 120, f ixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, cryoprotected, sectioned, and immunostain ed with rhodamine conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G. Immuno reactivity for protein gene product 9.5 was intense and illustrated th e process of nerve regrowth in rat skin after thermal injury. No nerve growth was detectable in 1- and 7-day preparations, Variable regenera tion was noted in 14-day preparations. The 28- and 120-day groups prod uced nerve counts that were similar to control sections. Results sugge st that rat hairy skin has a capacity for nerve regrowth after thermal injury. Nerves were noted to regenerate from beneath the scar. Burn w ounds in rats demonstrated vigorous cutaneous nerve regeneration.