Long-Standing Motor and Sensory Recovery following Acute Fibrin Sealant Based Neonatal Sciatic Nerve Repair

Figure 2

Immunohistochemical analysis of the spinal cord ventral horn stained with antisynaptophysin, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, following P2 sciatic nerve transection and repair. A significant preservation of synaptophysin immunoreactivity is observed in both coaptation groups in all time analyzed. (a, b, c) Ipsilateral side, 4 weeks after lesion, groups AX, AX+FS, and AX+CFS, respectively. (d) Contralateral side, 4 weeks after lesion. (e, f, g) Ipsilateral side, 8 weeks after lesion, groups AX, AX+FS, and AX+CFS, respectively. (h) Contralateral side, 8 weeks after lesion. (i, j, k) Ipsilateral side, 12 weeks after lesion, groups AX, AX+FS, and AX+CFS, respectively. (l) Contralateral side, 12 weeks after lesion. Scale bar = 50 μm. (m) Synaptic covering 4, 8, and 12 weeks after injury, obtained by the ratio IL/CL (ipsi/contralateral sides) of the integrated density of pixels at lamina IX. Observe the significant reduction of synaptic elimination in both groups repaired with fibrin sealant, in all survival times analyzed. Mean SE. AX: axotomy; AX+FS: axotomy followed by coaptation with fibrin sealant derived from snake venom; AX+CFS: axotomy followed by coaptation with commercial fibrin sealant.