J Reconstr Microsurg 1987; 3(2): 87-89
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1006969
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1987 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Chemotactic Arrangement of Axons Inside and Distal to a Venous Graft

G. Brunelli, G. Fontana, C. Jager, P. Bartolaminelli, A. Franchini
  • Department of Orthopaedics, Brescia University Medical School, Brescia, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted for publication 1986

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Experiments in rats, introducing the proximal and distal stumps of tibial and sural nerves into a vein graft, showed by acetylcholinesterase and toluidine blue staining that sensory and motor fibers mix inside the vein graft, but that nevertheless they are able to select their distal targets correctly. The authors' hypothesis is that surface membrane antigens of Schwann cells might be responsible for this chemotactic phenomenon.

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