Peripheral Nerve Injury-Induced Astrocyte Activation in Spinal Ventral Horn Contributes to Nerve Regeneration

Figure 4

Fluorocitrate treatment inhibits astrocyte activation and reduces neurotrophin expression in the spinal ventral horn and retards nerve regeneration as well as motor function recovery. (a-b) Immunohistochemistry and quantification illustrating that the number of the activated astrocytes was significantly decreased in the fluorocitrate-treated group. (c-d) Western blots revealing that the level of GFAP in the spinal ventral horn was also markedly reduced in the fluorocitrate-treated group. (e) Immunohistochemistry showing the neurotrophins (arrows) colocalizing with GFAP-positive in the spinal ventral horn. (f) Statistical diagram showing that the intensity of neurotrophin immunoreactivity in the fluorocitrate-treated group was significantly reduced. (g) GAP-43 immunochemistry showing the regenerated axons in the injured nerve (lesion site). (h) Statistics showing the length of regenerated axons. (i–j) Western blots and quantification showing the GAP-43 expression level in the distal segment of the injured nerve. (k) Statistics of the sciatic functional index assessments in the injured nerve. versus saline group, versus the standardized value of saline group.

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