Fig 1.
FB injection and denervation procedure–lateral aspect.
Osteological specimen of the ovine hip joint–dorsolateral view. In the photograph the place of Fast Blue (FB) injection and the area of periosteum removal are drawn schematically. In animals of the lateral control (LC) and lateral denervated (LD) groups FB was injected into the lateral side of the HJC. The area of the HJC in which the tracer was injected is outlined with ellipse. The places of tracer injection are shown as grey spots in the delineated area. The area in which the periosteum was scraped with curette is indicated as a double dotted line. TMA, trochanter major; CF, corpus ossis femoris; CI, corpus ossis ilii; CIS, corpus ossis ischii; cr, cranial; cd, caudal; lat, lateral; med, medial.
Fig 2.
FB injection and denervation procedure–medial aspect.
Osteological specimen of the ovine hip joint–ventromedial view. The place of FB injection and area of periosteum removal are shown schematically. In animals of the medial control (MC) and medial denervated (MD) groups, FB was injected into the ventromedial side of the HJC. The area of the HJC in which the tracer was injected is outlined with the ellipse. The places of tracer injection are shown as grey spots in the delineated area. The area in which the periosteum was scraped with a curette is indicated as a double dotted line. TMI, trochanter minor; CF, corpus ossis femoris; CI, corpus ossis ilii; CIS, corpus ossis ischii; FO, foramen obturatum; cr, cranial; cd, caudal; lat, lateral; med, medial.
Fig 3.
Graph showing the number of FB+ neurons and results of statistical analysis.
The number of FB+ neurons per sheep in the control and experimental animals injected with FB into the lateral side of the hip joint capsule (HJC). Both the medial and the lateral approach of HJC denervation significantly reduced the number of remaining sensory neurons (FB+) innervating the capsule. The lateral approach was found to be significantly more effective for reducing sensory innervation as compared to the medial approach.
Fig 4.
Microphotographs of the spinal ganglia.
Longitudinal section of the sixth right lumbar spinal ganglion of the sheep of LC group injected with FB into the lateral part of the hip joint capsule (upper set). Lower set shows longitudinal section of the sixth right lumbar spinal ganglion of the sheep of LD group subjected to neurectomy and next injected with FB into the lateral surface of the hip joint capsule. Inserts show high magnification of retrogradely-labelled (FB+) sensory neurons innervating the capsule after the procedure. Photographs were captured by confocal microscope (LSM 700, Zeiss) as tiled scan. Scale bars: long = 1mm, short 100μm.
Fig 5.
Graph showing the number of FB+ neurons and results of statistical analysis–lateral groups.
The number of FB+ neurons in dorsal root ganglia in control and experimental sheep injected with FB in the lateral side of the HJC (after lateral denervation). HJC denervation from the lateral approach significantly decreased the capsule innervation originating from L6 and S1 dorsal root ganglia.
Fig 6.
Graph showing the number of FB+ neurons and results of statistical analysis–medial groups.
The number of FB+ neurons in dorsal root ganglia in control and experimental sheep injected with FB in to the medial side of the HJC (after medial denervation). HJC denervation from the medial approach significantly decreased the capsule innervation originating only from L6 dorsal root ganglion.