Preservation of sensory cells by placing stumps of transected nerve in an impermeable tube

It is known that transection of a major peripheral nerve results in the loss of a significant number of sensory cells whose axons travel in that nerve. The present study confirms this observation and shows that placement of the stump of such a transected nerve into an impermeable tube prevents this loss. We further show that this preservation does not depend on axonal regeneration. Further experiments to define the phenomenon and to obtain beginning insight into mechanisms are discussed. If these findings can be generalized to humans, they may have clinical significance.