Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 1, 679-684, Copyright © 1981 by Society for Neuroscience
Plasticity in the spinal cord sensory map following peripheral nerve injury in rats
M Devor and PD Wall
The medial part of the L4 and 5 dorsal horn in adult rats is dominated by
afferents from the toes and foot. After transection of the sciatic and
saphenous nerves, virtually all cells in this region are left without any
peripheral receptive field. Beginning 4 to 5 days after nerve section,
however, many peripherally deafferented cells take on a novel receptive
field on the thigh, lower back, or perineum. The new receptive fields are
served by intact nerves ending in proximal skin rather than by misdirected
sprouts of cut toe-foot nerves. Thus, peripheral axotomy results in
synaptic reorganization in the spinal cord proper. Receptive field
reorganization occurs after nerve transection, ligation, or ligation with
distal transection but does not occur if the nerve is crushed. If a cut
nerve is sutured and regeneration is permitted, spinal reorganization is
reversed and the toe-foot afferents regain exclusive dominance of the
medial dorsal horn.
