Disruption of Nrf2 Enhances the Upregulation of Nuclear Factor-kappaB Activity, Tumor Necrosis Factor-𝛼, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

Figure 2

Influence of Nrf2 genotype on histological alterations of the spinal cord tissue 24 hours after SCI. No histologic alteration was observed in spinal cord tissues obtained from sham-operated mice (Figure 2(a)). A significant damage to the spinal cord from SCI mice at the perilesional, as assessed by the presence of edema as well as an alteration of the white matter (Figure 2(b)). Notably, the histological injury was severer in Nrf2 (−/−) mice (Figure 2(c)) than that in Nrf2 (+/+) mice (Figures 2(b) and 2(d)) at 24 hours after SCI. Bars represent mean $\pm$ S.E. ($n=6$, each group). *$P<.01$ versus genotype-matched sham-operated mice. ^#$P<.01$ versus treatment-matched Nrf2 (+/+) mice. wm: white matter; gm: gray matter.

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