Figure 3.

Evaluation of immunological events by immunocytochemistry. (a)-(b) Quantification of ED1-immunopositive cells, in the distal graft in two animals per group at two (a) and thirteen weeks (b) after surgery. Bars represent absolute numbers for single animals. (c)–(e) Representative photomicrographs of outer areas of graft cross-sections at 20x magnification after immunocytochemistry for ED1, NF200, and DAPI nuclear counterstaining. (c) ANT group sample containing equally distributed axons. (d) CES group sample displaying an area with equally distributed axons separated from connective tissue. (e) COM group sample demonstrating massive infiltration of the outer PCL shell with multinucleated foreign body giant cells (FBGCs, white circles), while no axons were detectable.