An anterograde degeneration study of the distribution of regenerating rat myelinated fibers in the silicone chamber model.

Specificity of reinnervation after a peripheral nerve lesion has given rise to considerable controversy. As a contribution to solving this issue we have evaluated the specificity of reinnervation of the peroneal nerve after a complete transection of the sciatic nerve repaired with an 8 mm silicone tube, leaving a 4 mm gap between the nerve stumps. Our findings reveal unspecificity of reinnervation of the distal peroneal branch. This lack of specificity is shown by a random distribution of fibers originating from both proximal branches at the level of the tube and at distal peroneal and tibial branches, argue against specificity of regeneration in this model.