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Mouse sciatic nerve regeneration through semipermeable tubes: A quantitative model
Author(s) -
Uzman B. G.,
Villegas G. M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490090309
Subject(s) - epineurium , endoneurium , perineurium , axon , anatomy , sciatic nerve , regeneration (biology) , schwann cell , biomedical engineering , electron microscope , chemistry , biology , peripheral nerve , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , optics
The regeneration of transected mouse sciatic nerves using semipermeable acrylic copolymer tubes to enclose both stumps has been qualitatively assessed from 1 to 30 weeks post‐operative. Quantitative morphometric analysis of electron micrograph montages of complete transverse sections of the segment regenerated between stumps has permitted determinations of the percents of total area occupied by the various tissue constituents—blood vessels, epineurium, perineurium, endoneurium, myelinate d axon/Schwann cell units, and unmyelinated axon/Schwann cell units. Significant differences were found in the total cross‐sectional area of segments regenerated through tubes of 1.0 mm versus 0.5 mm internal diameters. Segments regenerated with the distal stump inserted in the tube contained significantly greater percentages of neural units and were significantly larger at 8 weeks post‐operative compared to segments regenerated for 9‐10 weeks with the distal stump avulsed. The morphometric method permits rapid quantitation of sizeable electron micrograph montages which at 1300 × permit all types of tissue components, including the unmyelinated axons, to be visualized.