The Influence of the Nervous System Upon the Growth of Bones

Abstract

1. An experimental study of the effects of nerve and muscle lesions upon the growth of bone has been made. In each case animals were subjected to unilateral lesions in the hind limb, the other limb serving as a control. The growth of the tibia was measured by calculating the difference between the length of the bone on a radiograph at the beginning of the experiment and the length of the dried bone after necropsy. The weights of the dried bones were compared. 2. In the young rabbit simple exposure of the common peroneal nerve, or division of the sural nerve, produced no change in the growth rate of the tibia. Division of both peroneal nerves, producing paralysis of the muscles below the knee, led to lengthening of the affected tibia, and this lengthening persisted until maturity several months later. A similar lengthening was seen after division of the tendons around the ankle. In spite of this lengthening the tibia on the side of the operation was almost always lighter than its fellow. 3. In the puppy division of the anterior nerve roots supplying the hind limb produced a significant lengthening of the tibia of the affected limb three months after operation. No significant changes in limb length occurred after lumbar sympathectomy in the puppy. 4. The significance of these experimental nerve lesions has been considered together with recent observations upon the growth of bone in the presence of lower motor neurone lesions in the child. From this analysis it is suggested that the initial effect of paralysis is to produce lengthening of the affected bone. This lengthening is probably due to the hyperaemia of disuse. In the presence of persistent paralysis the growth of the limb is ultimately depressed. This depression is rarely seen in the experimental animal because the growing period is relatively short. The possible causes of this secondary depression of bone growth have been considered.

Transient local presence of nerve fibers at onset of secondary ossification in the rat knee joint

“…However, in this respect the developmental studies performed so far have yielded contradictory results. While some workers report that limb denervation in young animals results in deficient growth (Dietz 1989;Dysart et al 1989), other investigators say that growth is accelerated (Ring 1961) or unaffected (Popiela 1976;Strecker and Stephens 1983). Further studies are needed to clarify this issue.…”

Control of Bone Remodeling by the Peripheral Sympathetic Nervous System

“…The innervation of long bones plays a direct role in bone development, as evidenced from increased diaphyseal length in peroneal denervation experiments with juvenile rabbits more than 50 years ago [15]. During embryological development, the earliest GAP43-expressing nerve fibers appear at e17 in rats, followed closely by nerves expressing PGP9.5 (e19).…”

Callus Formation in Cases of Cerebral Fat Embolism (A Contribution to the Theory of Neurogenic Influence on Osteogenesis)

“…We are unable to explain this phenomenon, and can only point out possible influence of nervous system upon bone growth and ossification as suggested by Ring [7], and some metabolic changes as suggested by Arstrong [1], or the hypothesis of the reduced oxygenation of the os seuse tissue as brought forward by Benassy [2]. This last hypothesis can explain the relatively delayed bone union, despite of severe coma (in case 6), who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy.…”