Process where fine nerve processes - sprouts - grow out from the intact axons to reinnervate denervated muscle fibers. Thereby the sprouting sustains the nerve supply to muscles and, in turn, the ability to move.

In rat experiments, enhanced axonal sprouting and higher survival of motoneurons was demonstrated after cutting or crushing the facial nerve by nimodipine.

These results were confirmed in clinical trials following vestibular schwannoma surgery.