FIG. 9.

Fluorescent micrographs following FG retrograde tracing in the DRGs of the NGC-implanted groups at 1 week after FG injection (FG injection was conducted at 12 and 24 weeks of postimplantation; ×100). The number of FG-labeled neuron cell bodies (gold color) increased gradually with time, indicating that the reconnection between defective nerves was occurring continuously. The NGF/US/NGC group showed more FG-labeled neuron cells compared to the other groups, indicating that the greater nerve fibers connecting the defect stumps were present. FG, FluoroGold; DRG, dorsal root ganglion. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea