[Regeneration of free nerve endings and sensory corpuscles after implantation of nerve into the denervated skin in the monkey]

Abstract

Two rhesus monkeys were used. Their fingers were denervated first and then the nerve was implanted into the denervated skin. The results showed that: (1) the process of regeneration of nerve fibers was similar to that of previous experiments in rabbits; (2) regeneration of nervous tissue included 2 kinds of sensory receptors with capsule-Meissner corpuscles and Merkel cell-dendrite complex; (3) the regenerative rate of Meissner corpuscles increased progressively and their morphology and structure became matured with elapse of time; (4) no regeneration of pacinian corpuscle was found in 6 months after nerve implantation; (5) Meissner corpuscles also regenerated in the transplanted glabrous skin.