Fig. 3. Photomicrographs of α^2A-adrenoceptor immunoreactivity (IR) cell profiles in the ipsilateral and contralateral sciatic nerve 4 weeks after partial sciatic nerve ligation. (A ) No clear α^2A-adrenoceptor IR cell profiles were observed in the sciatic nerve of normal rats. (B ) Intensely stained α^2A-adrenoceptor IR cell profiles were accumulated around ligation sutures (arrow). These labeled cells were of small size. Some of these cells were adjacent to small blood vessels. (C ) α^2A-adrenoceptor IR cell profiles were also observed in the injured sciatic nerve 1cm distal to the injury site, distributing relative sparsely among the axons. The nuclei of some cells were clearly discerned. (D ) α^2A-adrencoeptor IR cell profiles were also observed in the epineural connective tissues. Note that some cells were close to blood vessels (VS). Interestingly enough, numerous α^2A-adrenoceptor IR cell profiles were also noticed in the contralateral sciatic nerve at proximal thigh level, equivalent to the level of injury site in the contralateral sciatic nerve. (E ) similarly, some α^2A-adrenoceptor IR cell profiles were also detected in the epineural connective tissue in the contralateral sciatic nerve at proximal thigh level. (F ) some of these cells were closely associated with blood vessels. Scale bar = 50 μm.