Tiam Mana Saffari

93 REVASCULARIZATION PATTERNS OF NERVE ALLOGRAFTS 5 a Canon MT-26-RT Twin Lite Macro strobe light source for calculating the vascular surface area (two dimensional), according to protocol 19 . Statistical analysis The vascular volume and the vascular surface area were analyzed and compared to the non-operated sciatic nerve (control). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for comparisons between groups and time points. Results were reported as the mean and standard error or the mean (SEM), and the level of significance was set at α ≤ 0.05. Cross sectional analysis To describe the revascularization patterns in various parts of the nerve, cross sectional images frommicro CT imaging were obtained for the 12 and 16 week survival periods. The length of the nerve between both anastomoses was divided into three equal sections: proximal (part I), mid (part II) and distal (part III). For each section, four cross sectional images were obtained. Cross-sectional images were divided into three equally concentric rings (central (A), middle (B) and outer (C)). The number of vessels was counted in each ring. Number of vessels in each part of the nerve (proximal, mid or distal) and ring (central, middle or outer) were averaged and compared to other groups of nerve grafts using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc testing. Results were reported as the mean and SEM, and the level of significance was set at α ≤ 0.05. RESULTS Macroscopic appearance of the vessels in the nerve samples All rats were sacrificed at their designated survival periods and successful preservation of vasculature was achieved in all nerve samples (N=51). After clearing had taken place, the nerves were imaged using the micro CT to allow 3D visualization of the vessels (Figure 1). Macroscopic photographs were obtained from these nerve samples for 2D visualization of vessels (Figure 2).