Behavioral Improvement and Regulation of Molecules Related to Neuroplasticity in Ischemic Rat Spinal Cord Treated with PEDF
Figure 2
Levels (a) of microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord of Sham, Saline, and PEDF groups 6 weeks after surgery, detected by western blot (Protein Levels) and microdensitometric/morphometric image analysis (Immunoreactivity). Rats received a sham operation (Sham) or a photothrombotic injury at the low thoracic level of the spinal cord and were treated with a local injection of phosphate buffered saline (Saline) or pigmented epithelial derived factor (PEDF). Means ± s.e.m., . Values were expressed as a percentage of the Sham group. () and () are differences of PEDF group compared to Sham, and ###() is the difference of PEDF group compared to Saline according to one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey posttest. Microphotographs illustrated MAP-2 immunoreactivity (b) of rats submitted to a sham surgery (B1, B3) or a photothrombotic injury followed by PEDF (B2, B4). The microphotographs B3 and B4 are higher magnifications of regions depicted from B1 and B2, respectively. The bands of the MAP-2 and alpha (α) Tubulin signals (c) by means of western blot are also illustrated. Scale bars: 100 μm (B1, B2) and 30 μm (B3, B4).
