Functional and morphological motor regeneration after different periods of denervation and following microsurgical suture of the peroneal nerve. Experimental study in the rabbit.

The morphological and functional recovery of the peripheral nerve, motor endplate, and muscle has been studied in rabbits after different periods of denervation of the muscles and secondary suture of the supplying nerve, by electrophysiological (electromyography and electroneurography) and histological methods (electron microscopy, including freeze fracture techniques and histochemistry). In rabbit peroneal nerve, 10 months of denervation appears as the critical interval. Longer periods of denervation are not followed by a sufficient functional recovery.