Figure 2

Longitudinal sections of nerve regenerated within the implanted guide channel. In the conduit, the regenerated nerve bridged the 10-mm gap, reconnecting the two sciatic nerve stumps.(A) 4 months after surgery hematoxylin-eosin staining shows the presence of regenerated tissue filling the conduit lumen; decreased lumen diameter is observable at middle length of the guidance channel. Regenerated tissue positive to Bielschowsky staining (B) and to anti β-tubulin antibody (C) shows nervous projections oriented along the major axis of the prosthesis bridging the 10-mm gap between the severed sciatic nerve stumps (image sequence collected at 4× magnification).