Figure 1

Transection point. Left sciatic nerves were exposed and transected at the level of the hip joint under pentobarbital anaesthesia. Regeneration of the left sciatic nerve was prevented by suturing of distal and proximal stumps beside the point of transection. The right sciatic nerve was left intact. For biochemical and morphological analysis two 4-mm areas (P1, P2) were cut starting 1 mm proximally to the point of transection. Also, distally two sections were cut, one (D1) starting immediately 1 mm from the point of transection and the other (D2) starting 5 mm distal to the site of transection.