Direct Spinal Ventral Root Repair following Avulsion: Effectiveness of a New Heterologous Fibrin Sealant on Motoneuron Survival and Regeneration

Figure 2

Immunohistochemical analysis of the spinal cord ventral horn stained with antisynaptophysin, 4 and 12 weeks, following ventral root avulsion and repair. A significant preservation of synaptophysin immunoreactivity was observed in both reimplanted groups. (a-b, e-f, and i-j) Ipsilateral and contralateral sides, 4 weeks after lesion. (c-d, g-h, and k-l) Ipsilateral and contralateral sides, 12 weeks after lesion. (m) Synaptic covering, obtained by the ratio IL/CL (ipsi/contralateral sides) of the integrated density of pixels at lamina IX, 4 weeks after lesion. (n) Synaptic covering, obtained by the ratio IL/CL (ipsi/contralateral sides) of the integrated density of pixels at lamina IX, 4 weeks after lesion. Observe the significant reduction of synaptic elimination in both groups repaired with fibrin sealant. Scale bar = 50 μm. Mean ± SE. .