title: A scanning electron microscope study of the development of free axonal sprouts at the cut ends of dorsal spinal nerve roots in the rat.
abstract: Rat dorsal spinal nerve roots were cut and the tip on the ganglionic side of the cut was examined by scanning electron microscopy at 0, 7, 20 and 48 h after operation. Seven hours after cutting, free axonal sprouts had started to protrude from the cut end of the nerve. After 20 h the free sprouts were more profuse than at 7 h but were smaller and had a rougher surface. At both 7 and 20 h many of the sprouts consisted of a stalk 2-7 mum in diameter with a bulbous end 5-20 mum in diameter. A few branching sprouts were seen. At 48 h the sprouts were shrunken with a deeply furrowed surface. The significance of the surface structure of the sprouts is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003714:Denervation; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009411:Nerve Endings; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000502:physiology*