Abstract: Physiological interactions and reciprocal signaling between axons and Schwann Cells (SC) play important roles in nerve development and regeneration after peripheral nerve injury. During development, axonal signaling is essential for SC proliferation, migration, differentiation and myelination. After nerve injury, Wallerian degeneration completely disrupts axon-SC contacts, SC genetic and phenotypic changes, cell proliferate and promote axon regeneration. When the regenerated axon contacts with denervated SC, the second proliferation wave begins. Studies have shown that neuronal axons through Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and its erbB receptor to mediate the SCs proliferation activity, application of exogenous NRG1 can save SC and prevent apoptosis, promote SC proliferation and migration and axon regeneration. In this paper, NRG1 as a driving force for SC proliferation, differentiation, migration, myelination during development and redifferentiation, remyelination after injury were reviewed.

Key words: Neuregulin 1, Schwann cell, Development, Regeneration