βIII-Tubulin⁺ immunostaining in nerve cross-sections.

(A–D) Cross-sections of normal nerve (A) and of distal host nerve stumps of acellular (B), CNTF (C) and NT3 (D) grafts. (E) Cross-sectional areas of NT3 grafts were significantly larger (*) than areas of normal nerves and of acellular and CNTF grafts. (F) The density of βIII-Tubulin⁺ axons/mm² in all grafted nerves was significantly greater (*) in proximal (Block A) than in distal (Block E) stumps, and greater (**) in the normal versus NT3 group in Block E. (G) The ratio of βIII-Tubulin⁺ axons/mm² between nerve stumps was significantly lower in normal nerves than in grafts (*), except those with unmodified SCs. The ratio in the NT3 group was significantly greater (**) than in acellular, SCs and CNTF groups. Values represent M ± SEM; p<0.0005 in E and G and p<0.05 in F. Further details on statistical analysis provided as Statistical Information S1. Scale bar for A–D: 100 µm.