Total number of myelinated axons in saphenous nerve sections proximal, adjacent and distal to the surgical site in SMIR- and sham-operated animals. Graph shows the mean ± SEM of the number of myelinated axons in entire nerve sections, n = 4 – 7 per level, per group. There was no significant difference, at proximal, adjacent or distal levels, in the total number of myelinated axons between SMIR ipsilateral and sham ipsilateral nerves or between sham ipsilateral and contralateral nerves (two-tailed unpaired t-tests).