Figure 2. Staircase test of skilled forelimb reaching. A, Photograph showing the staircase apparatus. The experimental boxes were made of clear Plexiglass with a central raised platform. The narrowness of the compartment was enough to prevent the rat from turning around and to allow unilateral reaches. Pellets were provided into a removable double staircase located at the end of the box. B, Number of pellets retrieved: all damaged groups were significantly impaired compared to control and sham animals at post (24 h) and day 7. At day 14, animals from the crush group remained impaired and animals from both treated groups improved but without a difference between them. Data are reported as means ± SEM. ^*P < 0.05 compared to the control and sham groups (repeated measures ANOVA followed by the Duncan multiple range test).