Stimulated growth of human and pig epidermal nerve fibers by tape stripping.

Nerve growth studies in adults usually rely upon nerve regeneration that follows axon disruption. In this study elongation of the epidermal nerve fibers occurred in human and pig epidermis stimulated to hypertrophy by removing the stratum corneum with repetitive applications of tape (tape stripping). Epidermal thickening was accompanied by elongation of the epidermal nerve fibers. This study demonstrates that changing the cellular and chemical environment of nerves by tape stripping is a feasible method to study nerve fiber growth in a physiological manner.