The effect of allantoin on cellular multiplication in degenerating and regenerating nerves.

Injury to a peripheral nerve is, among other things, followed by degeneration of axons and myelin, as well as by a sharp increase in the number of cells (especially Schwann cells) in the part distal to the injury. The effect of allantoin--a cell proliferant--was tested on the above-mentioned reactions in the sciatic nerve of rats. The nerves were crushed and re-exposed 7, 14, 21, 35 and 90 days after the injury, and removed for histological examination. The results obtained in a group of rats treated with allantoin were compared with those obtained in a control group of rats. The results showed that allantoin had a statistically significant effect on the cellular multiplication seen in the nerve 7 and 14 days after the injury. Myelin degeneration was also found to be more advanced in the allantoin-treated nerve preparations examined 14 and 21 days postoperatively than in the control nerve preparations.