Schwann cells can misdirect regrowing neuronal processes

Studies of potentials for dorsal spinal nerve root axons to regrow into the spinal cord involved placement of the tracer HRP/WGA-HRP on the cut end of the nerve root. Following this procedure, labeled neurons were found within the spinal dorsal gray matter. Analyses revealed that spinal neurons influenced by the presence of radiation-induced intraspinal Schwann cells extend misdirected processes into the dorsal root.