The effect of vincristine on nerve regeneration in the rat. An electrophysiological study.

Weekly injections of vincristine to produce a dose-dependent delay in regeneration following sciatic nerve crush. With 20 micrograms/kg/wk recovery was similar to that in control animals. With 50 and 100 micrograms/kg/wk electrophysiological evidence of reinnervation of the foot muscles was significantly delayed and muscle action potential amplitude increased at a slower rate. However, once begun the increase in motor nerve conduction velocity was closer to that in control animals. With 200 micrograms/kg/wk no evidence of reinnervation of the foot muscles was found even after 6 months. These doses produced no abnormality of muscle action potential amplitude or of nerve conduction velocity on the opposite non-crushed side.