Fig. 5

Combined therapy promoted regeneration of neuronal fibers and regrowth of raphespinal serotonergic fibers. a Representative image of axial sections stained for NF-H at the lesion epicenter and at the sites located 1 mm rostral and caudal in the TP and combination groups. Scale bars: 400 μm (upper) and 20 μm (lower). b Quantitative analysis of NF-H⁺ areas at each level. n = 5 each. c Representative images of immunostaining for 5-HT in axial Sects. 4 mm caudal to the epicenter. Scale bars: 100 μm (upper) and 50 μm (lower). d Quantitative analysis of the 5-HT-positive area (TP group; n = 7, control group; n = 7). Values are the mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann‒Whitney U test in (b, d). Combi: Combination group