Figure 1.

Effects of PN graft transplantation and ventral root (VR) re-implantation on the axonal regeneration of avulsed motoneurons as revealed by retrograde FG-labeling at 6 weeks post-implantation. (A) A representative micrograph of spinal cross sections showing FG-positive neurons (arrows) present in the ventral horn of the animals with PN graft transplantation (asterisk). (B) A representative micrograph of spinal cross sections showing FG-positive neurons (arrows) in the ventral horn of the animals with VR re-implantation (asterisk). (a and b) Micrographs made under higher magnification of the areas of interest in A and B, respectively. (C) The number of regenerating motoneurons in the VR re-implanted animals was significantly higher than that in the PN transplanted animals (*p < 0.001; scale bar: 200 μm in A and B; 80 μm in a and b).