Morphological evidence of collateral sprouting of intact afferent and motor axons of the rat ulnar nerve by one type of tracer molecule
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Annals of Anatomy |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Morphological specializations and cytology |
| Keywords | afferent; efferent; sprouts |
| Description | In our experimental paradigm we sutured distal stump of transected musculocutaneous nerve to an intact ulnar nerve of the rat by the end-to-side fashion. We demonstrated the formation of collateral sprouts from intact afferent and motor axons by application of one type of molecule conjugated by two different fluorophores (Fluoro-Ruby and Fluoro-Emerald). Fluoro-Ruby and Fluoro-Emerald were applied distal to end-to-side suture into fresh cut ends of the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves, respectively. Formation of collateral sprouts was evidenced by findings of mixed (orange) fluorescence labeling of spinal motoneurons and dorsal root ganglia neurons. Colocalization of two different tracers retrogradely transported to the neurons was verified by green and red profiles analyzed by means of image analysis system. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that a nerve stump attached to an intact nerve can induce collateral sprouting of both afferent and motor axons. |
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