Neonatal sciatic nerve lesion triggers the sprouting of fibers in the contralateral ventral root of the rat.

We explored the possibility that unilateral neurectomy of the sciatic nerve of the rat at the neonatal stage triggers sprouting of afferent fibers in the contralateral ventral root. 3 months after neonatal sciatic neurectomy, the numbers of both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers in the L5 and L3 ventral roots were counted on electron micrographic montages. Age-matched littermates were used as unoperated controls. To identify regenerating axons, electron microscopic immunohistochemistry was done on the ventral roots using antibody against growth-associated phosphoprotein (GAP-43). Neonatal sciatic neurectomy resulted in: (1) about a three-fold increase in the number of unmyelinated fibers in the contralateral L5 ventral root as compared with the unoperated control; (2) about a 25-fold increase in the number of unmyelinated fibers in the ipsilateral L5 ventral root as compared with the control; (3) approximately 25% of the unmyelinated fibers in the contralateral L5 ventral root expressing GAP-43; and (4) no significant change in the number of unmyelinated fibers in the L3 ventral root of either side as compared with the control. The data suggest that a neonatal sciatic neurectomy of the rat triggers sprouting of unmyelinated afferent fibers in the ventral root of the contralateral as well as the ipsilateral side. The sprouting is restricted, however, to spinal segments which receive inputs from the sciatic nerve.