Fig. 3

Assessment of motor and sensory functional recovery. a Sciatic functional index measured over time after transplantation. Compared to the NC group, the Auto group and TP group were significantly recovered at 12 weeks after transplantation. b Ankle joint ROM measurements collected while the animals were under anesthesia demonstrated decreased values only in the NC group. c Injury status of toes was measured as the autotomy score. The black shadow shows the contour of the rat’s foot at the time of observation. d, e Results from the von Frey monofilament test for touch sensation and from the Hargreaves plantar test for thermal sensation demonstrated that the recovery in the motor and sensory TP group was greater than that in the NC group. f–h From the captured raw images of the waves (f), latency and amplitude were analyzed by measuring the compound muscle action potentials, with improved tendency in TP groups. i, j The ratio of gastrocnemius wet weight between the injured side and healthy side showed the recovery status of innervated muscles. A significant difference between the sensory TP group and the NC group was detected. Left = injured side. Right = control healthy side. Scale bar = 10 mm (n = 6) * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, N.S. = not significant. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM