Dorsal root innervation of spinal cord neurons after dorsal root implantation into the spinal cord of adult rats.

In an attempt to enhance spinal cord reinnervation by dorsal root neurons in the adult rat, the root was cut and implanted into the cord. Wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was injected into the dorsal root ganglion in order to look for regrowth in the spinal cord. Instead of regenerated dorsal root axons, there was an occurrence of HRP-labelled spinal cord neurons in the vicinity of the implanted dorsal root. In control animals, which had been subjected to dorsal root crush, no labelled neurons or terminals were observed in the spinal cord.