Impaired Limb Functional Outcome of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Is Marked by Incomplete Recovery of Paw Muscle Atrophy and Brain Functional Connectivity in a Rat Forearm Nerve Repair Model

Figure 1

The surgical procedure of the raw forepaw. (a) To assess the skilled functional recovery outcome after peripheral neural repair, we designed a nerve anastomosis model using rat forelimb. (b) The musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) and radial nerve of the rat forelimb were resected with or without nerve repair, to investigate the impact of limb muscle denervation and reinnervation on the skilled limb function. (c) Similarly, the median nerve and the ulnar nerve were manipulated to study the denervation and reinnervation of the paw intrinsic muscle.

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