Fig. 2

Light and electron microscopy images and quantitative analysis of regenerating axons and myelin sheaths. a, b  Representative low-magnification full images (a) and high-magnification images (b) of an axial section in the central part of the regenerating nerve, Scale bars = 200 μm (a) and 40 μm (b). c-e Quantitative analysis of axon number (c), total axonal area (d), and average area per axon (e), with significant differences between the TP and NC groups. (n = 6) f  There was variation in the axonal diameters of regenerating nerves, and larger diameter axons (black dotted square area) dominantly recovered in the TP group and Auto group. g  Representative electron microscopy images of axial sections in the central part of the regenerating sciatic nerve in each group. Scale bar = 20 μm. h  Quantitative analysis of myelin thickness with G-ratio analysis. Both the motor and sensory TP groups showed thick myelination similar to that in the Auto group. (n = 5 in Auto, n = 5 in Motor TP, n = 4 in Sensory TP, n = 7 in NC) * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, N.S. = not significant. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM