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Internodes can nearly double in length with gradual elongation of the adult rat sciatic nerve
Author(s) -
Abe Ichiro,
Ochiai Naoyuki,
Ichimura Harumitsu,
Tsujino Akihito,
Sun Jia,
Hara Yuki
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/j.orthres.2003.08.019
Subject(s) - elongation , sciatic nerve , anatomy , axon , tibial nerve , medicine , biology , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , stimulation , metallurgy
Leg lengthening procedure is used increasingly to treat leg length discrepancy and some forms of dwarfism. We investigated adaptation in rat sciatic nerve to the gradual nerve elongation that occurs with leg lengthening. Indirect nerve elongation was produced by leg lengthening by a total of 15, 30, 45, or 70 mm at a rate of 1 mm/day. One day after leg lengthening completion, transverse semithin sections of sciatic nerve were prepared and examined; a teased‐fiber study also was performed. Elongation decreased axon diameter, but not significantly. In teased‐fiber preparations, internodal length was increased by 93%, and the longest internode measured 3000 μm after leg lengthening by 70 mm. Slopes of fiber diameter–internodal length regression lines increased with increasing elongation. Paranodal demyelination caused by nerve elongation worsened as elongation increased, stimulating remyelination (i.e., intercalation of a segment). Only 0.8% of axons showed degeneration in the group with 70 mm of elongation. We concluded that adult rat sciatic nerve can adapt itself to leg lengthening procedure with even doubling internodal length. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.