Sciatic Nerve Denervation in Rodents

Denervation was accomplished by cutting the left sciatic nerve as described 8 (link) with minor modifications. Briefly, animals were anesthetized by inhalation of isoflurane at 3.5% for induction and 2.5-3% for maintenance. Hair was removed over the left hip with a clipper and skin was cleaned with 70% ethanol and beta-iodine solution. Animals were placed on a drape over a warming pad heated with recirculating water at 37 °C. The sciatic nerve was visualized through a small skin incision just posterior to the head of the femur and aligned with the femur by blunt dissection. After excising a segment of the sciatic nerve just proximal to the trifurcation, wounds were closed in layers with sutures. All animals were administered 5 mg/kg Carprofen, Baytril, and Ringer's lactate before the surgery and for 3 days post-surgery. The contralateral leg was used as control as it is shown in the figure legends.