Electrophysiological study on regeneration of the inferior alveolar nerve

Abstract

We did electrophysiological, histological and immnohistochemical investigations of the regenerative process of cat inferior alveolar nerves that had been severed and reconnected with a regeneration-inducing tube made primarily of pig skin collagen. Histological results showed that the nerve had regenerated by the twelfth postoperative week. Electropysiological results showed that latency of the mouth-opening reflex was not restored to the pre-surgery level after 24 weeks, although some recovery was noted in the regeneration group. Potential in the inferior alveolar nerve was evoked in the regeneration group 24 weeks after the operation. These results suggest that nerves may regenerate morphologically and functionally if a regeneration-inducing tube is placed at the time of nerve injury, and if the regeneration-inducing tube is of biologically compatible material.