[Restoration of the innervation of the extremity of the rat after joining the ends of the damaged nerve with a microsurgical suture].

Morphofunctional restoration of the cut ischemic nerve has been studied after its connection by means of a microsurgical suture. The investigations have been performed on 20 male rats. In 6 months after the operation the average diameter of the regenerating nervous fibers is 5.0-6.5 mcm and, as in an intact nerve they have a wavy course. Myelin decay products and inflammatory infiltrates are revealed in the nerve but sometimes. All the parts of the plantar skin are well reinnervated. Cutaneous epidermis of the sole and the digital pads possesses an extremely rich innervation. Characteristics of M-responses, registered from the m. gastrocnemius, approaches the norm in 2 months after the operation. In 10% of fibers of the regenerating ischiatic nerve impulse activity begins to be registered in 20-30 days after the operation. Gradually the borders of the receptor fields become wider and in 3 months they spread all over the whole sole. In 5-6 months the impulse reaction of the regenerating nerve fibers does not differ from that in non-operated animals. Thus, use of the microsurgical suture results in a successful regeneration of the rat ischemic nerve and in a rather short time. The restorative dynamics of the extremity tissue innervation can be presented as following: at first somatic muscles get innervation and then, as the afferent fibers grow in the periphery, the plantar skin and the skin of the digital pads is the last to get innervation.