Renewed growth of identified brainstem axons into fetal cortical transplants in adult rat.
Transplantation of fetal neocortex into the site of trigeminal brainstem injury induces regeneration of trigeminal primary afferent axons in adult rats. Renewed growth of injured primary afferent fibers into donor cortex can be extensive, though the innervation pattern does not resemble that normally seen in either brainstem or somatosensory cortex. Examination of the structural and functional characteristics of individual regenerate axon collaterals suggests that their morphology is determined by both intrinsic and postsynaptic target factors. Marked topographic alterations, however, question the utility of fetal cortical transplantation procedures in effecting functional recovery from brainstem injury.
D000818:Animals; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000637:transplantation*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei