Neural Lesions Can Cause Dendritic Sprouting of an Undamaged Adult Insect Motoneurone

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Abstract
The effect of nerve lesions upon the dendritic branching of the metathoracic ‘fast’ coxal depressor motoneurone in the adult cockroach, Peri-planeta americana has been studied by intracellular cobalt injection. Dendrites may sprout after several nerve trunks entering the metathoracic ganglion are lesioned. Direct surgical damage to the neurone is not a pre-requisite for sprouting. New sprouts may extend into regions of the ganglion or into nerve trunks which the neurone would not normally occupy. The developing sprouts appear to grow preferentially within regions containing degenerating nerve fibres. The nerve sprouts frequently have varicosities along their length and at their ends.