A role for nerve growth factor in collateral reinnervation from sensory nerves in the guinea pig.

We have investigated whether chronic nerve growth factor (NGF) depletion affects the development of a transmedian collateral reinnervation. The extent of transmedian innervation of the skin supplied by the left inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) was determined either immediately, 2 days or 7-9 weeks after sectioning and preventing regeneration of the contralateral IAN and in another group of animals left to recover for 7-9 weeks but also autoimmunised against NGF. Transmedian innervation was measured by recording the area from which a jaw-opening reflex could be evoked and by recording activity in the left IAN during mechanical and electrical stimulation of the skin. Nerve recording during electrical stimulation revealed extensive transmedian collateral reinnervation 7-9 weeks after denervation but this was prevented by NGF autoimmunisation. No change in transmedian innervation could be detected in any of the groups by nerve recording during mechanical stimulation and reflex responses revealed changes in the anaesthetic area which could not be attributed to collateral reinnervation. These results suggest that NGF plays an important role in collateral reinnervation from high-threshold sensory nerves.