Figure 2

SM-345431 enhanced axonal regeneration in vivo , but combined treatment had only a limited effect on further axon regeneration. (A-I) Sagittal sections from SCT rats immunostained for GAP-43. Low-magnification images of the control (A), SM-345431 (B) and combined treatment (C) groups. Scale bars = 500 μm. (D- F) Magnified images of the boxed areas shown in A-C. Scale bars = 10 μm. (G- I) Additional magnified images of the boxed areas shown in A-C. Scale bars = 10 μm. (J) Quantitative analysis of GAP-43-positive areas at 1 mm rostral to the lesion, 1 mm caudal to the lesion and at the epicenter of the lesion. Immunohistochemistry was performed using DAB with nickel enhancement. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Data are represented as the mean ± S.E.M. (K-P) Sagittal sections of SCT rats double-stained for 5-HT and GFAP. Scar tissue is outlined by GFAP staining, which also allowed for confirmation of total transection of the spinal cord in each animal. (K- M) Low-magnification images of the control (K), SM-345431 (L) and combined treatment (M) groups. Scale bars = 500 μm. (N-P) Magnified images of the boxed areas shown in K-M. Scale bars = 10 μm. Arrowheads represent 5-HT-positive (serotonergic) axons. (Q-S) Quantitative analyses of 5-HT-positive axons that penetrated into the scar tissue. (Q) Quantitative analysis of the number of 5-HT-positive axons that penetrated into the lesion site. (R,S) Quantitative analysis of the 5-HT-positive area within the scar tissue area. Immunohistochemistry was performed by double-staining using DAB with or without nickel enhancement. The left side is rostral in all images. **P < 0.01. Statistical analyses were performed using a Kruskal-Wallis H test. Data represent the mean ± S.E.M.