Fig. 5: Neovascularization and neuromotor functional recovery of regenerated nerve.
From: Biofeedback electrostimulation for bionic and long-lasting neural modulation
a Schematic illustration of vascular endothelial cells releasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to induce angiogenesis and neovascularization supporting the axon regeneration of PNI. b Immunofluorescent staining images of vascular tissue-specific basic protein: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (green), hematopoietic transmembrane protein CD34 (red), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule CD31 in regenerated nerve, nuclei (blue), red arrows: CD31 cells. c Relative expression of VEGF. d Relative expression of CD34. e Microvessel density in the regenerated nerves was calculated from CD34 staining. f CD31 area in regenerated nerves calculated from CD31 staining. g Comparison of electrophysiological recordings of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) (gray line: Sw-iES, orange line: Tw-iES, red line: Bio-iES, blue line: autograft). h Photograph of collected gastrocnemius muscle. Left: normal muscle, right: pathological muscle. i Masson staining of the gastrocnemius muscle, red: muscle fibers; blue: collagen fibers. Bar: 100 μm. Values of CMAP and NCV are shown in j, k. l Statistical analysis of gastrocnemius wet-weight ratio. m Statistical analysis of muscle fibers width. Data are expressed as mean values ±S.D. (n = 5, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001).
