Sciatic Nerve Neurectomy in Mice

Each mouse was pre-medicated subcutaneously with 0.1 mg/kg buprenorphine (Vetergesic; Animalcare, York, UK) and anaesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane (Isoforine®-Cristália) diluted in 100% oxygen delivered by mask. Sciatic neurectomy (SN) of the right limb of each mouse was accomplished as previously described and the contralateral left limb served as an internal contralateral control (contralateral) (De Souza et al., 2017 (link); de Souza et al., 2005 (link)). Briefly, an incision was made caudal to the right hip joint and the biceps femoris muscle elevated to expose the nerve. SN was achieved by resecting a 3-4 mm segment of the sciatic nerve posterior to the hip joint. The neurectomised mice were able to move around in the cage and gained access to food and water without difficulties. The mice were sacrificed through cervical dislocation at one of four different time points: either 5 days (n = 5), 35 days (n = 4), 65 days (n = 5) or 95 days (n = 3) after right SN. The tibiae, both left and right, were subsequently dissected, fixed in neutral-buffered formaldehyde for 24 h before washing and storage in 70% alcohol prior to microCT scanning.