Fig. 6.

Photomicrographs showing the longitudinal sections of the sciatic nerves following cut and repair with saline (A, B) and with the hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) solution (C, D) at 3 weeks after surgery. The sections were stained with H&E (A, C) and with Masson's trichrome (B, D). Original magnification was × 40. In the nerves treated with saline, a moderate inflammatory cell infiltration and the interlacing or whirling appearance of axons were demonstrated at the repair site (A). In the nerves treated with the HA-CMC solution, a mild inflammatory cell infiltration and the whirling and focal parallel appearance of axons were demonstrated at the repair site (C). The thickness of the blue-stained collagen depositions surrounding the nerve in the saline group was similar to that in the HA-CMC solution group (B, D).