Electrophysiological study on regeneration of the inferior alveolar nerve

Abstract

We electrophysiologically and histologically investigated the regenerative process of cat inferior alveolar nerves which 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 third postoperative month. Although latency of the mouth-opening reflex was not restored to the pre-surgery level after 6 months, some recovery was noted. These results suggest that nerves may regenerate morphologically and functionally if a regeneration-inducing tube is placed at the time of nerve injury.