Plasticity and regeneration in the peripheral nervous system

Abstract

While in the central nervous system plasticity (in response to stimulus) and regeneration (in response to injury) are mainly based on adaptive changes in neural circuitries and synaptic reorganization, in the peripheral nervous system they are predominantly based on axonal (re)growth and neuron addition. In this paper, we will briefly overview the main investigation lines on plasticity and regeneration in the peripheral nervous system that have been carried out at the Laboratory of Human Anatomy of the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences at the "San Luigi Gonzaga" Medical Faculty of the University of Turin. This body of research was mainly focused on the identification of the adaptive changes occurring to the sensory and autonomic neurons as a consequence of exceptional stimuli and/or damage at their periphery, as well as on the identification of effective new strategies for improving post-traumatic peripheral nerve fiber regeneration. These studies are in line with the long standing tradition on peripheral nervous system investigation carried out by the Anatomical School at the University of Turin since the times of Giuseppe Levi and we are honoured to have the occasion to present the results of our research on occasion of the appointment of Giovanni Orlandini as Emeritus Professor of the University of Florence.