Figure 1From: Retrograde tracing and toe spreading after experimental autologous nerve transplantation and crush injury of the sciatic nerve: a descriptive methodological study Functional regeneration after rat sciatic nerve injury. Original pictures, demonstrating the plantar surface view of the rat’s hind paws. Left hind paw represents the healthy (contralateral) paw, and right hind paw (ipsilateral) the operated side (The camera inverted the view on the animal, A-D). Accordingly paw print parameters were analyzed by measuring toe spread factor (TSF) digits 1–5, and intermediate toe spread factor (ITSF) digits 2–4. Typically the posture of the ipsilateral paw is devoid of any toe spreading during the first week after sciatic nerve injury (A, C). At 84 dpo toe spreading was significantly improved in both groups (B, D), but the ANT group did not reach pre-surgical values.Back to article page