BACKGROUND: Many experimental studies have confirmed collateral sprouting of axons after end-to-side neurorrhaphy and its possible clinical application. There is still controversy about how the surgical method should be carried out. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate collateral sprouting of motor and sensory axons after end-to-side neurorrhaphy with and without the perineurial window. METHODS: End-to-side neurorrhaphy of the distal stump of transected musculocutaneous nerve with intact ulnar nerve with or without a perineurial window was performed in a rat model. Collateral sprouts were quantitatively evaluated by counting of motor and sensory neurons following their retrograde labeling by Fluoro-Ruby and Fluoro-Emerald applied to the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves, respectively. RESULTS: Our results show that significantly more motor and sensory axons sent their collateral branches into the recipient nerve in the group with a perineurial window. Some axons were injured during preparation of the perineurial window; the injured axons reinnervated directly into the recipient nerve to contribute to results of functional reinnervation. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that it is necessary to create a perineurial window when using end-to-side neurorrhaphy in clinical practice, especially in brachial plexus reconstruction.

• MeSH
• anastomóza chirurgická MeSH
• axony MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• motorické neurony cytologie   MeSH
• nervové receptory cytologie   MeSH
• nervus musculocutaneus cytologie   růst a vývoj   chirurgie   MeSH
• nervus ulnaris cytologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• péče o zevnějšek u zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• periferní nervy cytologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• spinální ganglia cytologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH