Anastomoses of the carotid artery and the sciatic nerve of the rat were performed by using the microsurgical technique and comparing the nonabsorbable suture material Ethilon and the absorbable Vicryl, both 0,2 metric. No suture insufficiency neither in sutured nerves nor in vessels could be observed. After 70 to 84 days the Vicryl sutures were completely absorbed. In particular nerve sutures using Vicryl proved to be superior to Ethilon, as the displacement of axons in the area of granuloma decreased with progressing absorption of the suture and the degeneration of the axons was less renewed.