A A B Figure 2. Walking tract analysis. A – control group. B – ADSC-treated group Table II. Electrophysiological index and conservation muscle-mass ratio of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (n = 10) Group conservation Control ADSC-treated Nerve conduction velocity [m/s] 8.16 ±0.42 10.72 ±0.58* Incubation period [ms] 1.85 ±0.05 1.39 ±0.07* Peak amplitude [mm] 3.04 ±0.31 6.29 ±0.52* Muscle-mass ratio [%] 38.13 ±3.76 44.50 ±4.63* Values were mean ± SD, *p < 0.05 compared to control group ADSCs promote peripheral nerve repair Table I. Functional nerve regeneration (SFI) Postoperative week 4 8 12 Control group –97.50 ±0.12 –90.70 ±0.09 –86.79 ±0.4 ADSC-treated group –96.18 ±0.57 –82.82 ±0.49* –80.51 ±0.09* Values were mean ± SD, *p < 0.05 compared to control group we examined semi-thin sections of the distal ends of the grafts. Light microscopic examination of toluidine blue-stained cross-sections of these distal ends revealed an obvious difference between the experimental and control group. In particular, the experimental ADSC grafts had a comparatively higher density of well-myelinated fibres in the distal portion of the graft (Figure 3 B). In contrast, the control grafts showed a relatively low density of well- B Figure 3. Improved nerve regeneration after ADSC graft. Semi-thin cross-sections of the distal portion of nerve graft were subjected to Toluidine blue stain 12 weeks post-surgery. A – the control, non-ADSC-laden graft group showed impaired regeneration with thin remyelinization. B – the ADSC-laden graft showed a higher density of well-myelinated nerve fibres. Scale bar = 50 μm Table III. Regeneration of myelinated fibre (n = 6) Group Control ADSC-treated Myelinated fibre number [root/mm2] 1378 ±91 1671 ±122* Myelin sheath thickness [μm] Myelinated fibres/total nerves [%] 0.47 ±0.07 0.92 ±0.09* 39.63 ±3.50 50.88 ±6.08* Values were mean ± SD, *p < 0.05 compared to control group Arch Med Sci 4, August / 2011 595