title: Electric-field-induced reconnection of severed axons.
abstract: We report the first successful axon reconnection in the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) medial giant axon (MGA) by electric fields generated by electrical pulses of 10-100 microseconds duration and 80-200 V amplitude. Reconnection was documented by light and electron microscopy, and by transport of Lucifer yellow dye across the reconnected MGA segments. Direct repair of a severed nerve axon promises the advantages of preserving axon viability and distal connections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, NY 13244.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Todorov
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yogev
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fendler
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rodziewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000502:physiology*; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; C017475:lucifer yellow