Experimental Study on Orientation of Regenerating Fibers in the Severed Peripheral Nerve

The objective of this study was to ascertain how the orientation of regenerating fibers of the proximal stump of severed peripheral nerves is determined at time of growth. In other words, a gap was intentionally created between the both stumps of severed peripheral nerves to determine whether regenerating fibers are guided in the direction of the distal stump or if they grow randomly. The following results were obtained.

1) Regenerating fibers sprouting from the proximal stump definitely extend in the direction of the distal stump.

2) Even when the distal stump is replaced with a nerve fragment, the regenerating fibers grow in that direction.

These results are completely different from those of Weiss and Taylor, and thus the conclusion was reached that the possibility the orientation of regenerating fibers is determined by chemotaxis cannot be ruled out.