Failure of intact cutaneous mechanosensory axons to sprout functional collaterals in skin of adult rabbits

The original evidence that spared cutaneous nerves will sprout following partial denervation of skin was obtained in adult rabbits, in which nociceptive function returned to the deprived areas. Recently we reported that in the adult rat intact touch-sensitive (low-threshold mechanosensory) nerves fail to establish new functional endings in adjacent denervated skin. We have now investigated low-threshold mechanosensory nerves in the skin of …