Fig. 5

Co-administration of CX3CL1 and M-CSF effectively diminishes lesion size, reduces scarring, and preserves neuron survival after SCI. (A) Immunofluorescence staining of GFAP (green) and PDGFRβ (red) in sagittal sections from the CX3CL1 + M-CSF, CX3CL1, M-CSF and PBS groups at 28 dpi. ROI represents the high-magnification image within the dotted box on the left. Asterisks show the injured core. (B and C) Quantification of the percentage of GFAP⁻ area (B) and PDGFRβ⁺ area (C) within the spinal cord segment spanning the injured core at 28 dpi (n = 4 mice per group). (D) Representative immunofluorescence images of NeuN⁺ neurons in Z1–Z3 zones adjacent to central lesion core in the CX3CL1 + M-CSF, CX3CL1, M-CSF and PBS groups at 28 dpi. (E) Quantification of NeuN⁺ neurons in Z1–Z3 zones adjacent to central lesion core in the CX3CL1 + M-CSF, CX3CL1, M-CSF and PBS groups at 28 dpi (n = 3 mice per group). The data are presented as means ± SEM (error bars). ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001 and ^****P < 0.0001, the CX3CL1 + M-CSF group versus the CX3CL1, M-CSF and PBS groups. Statistical analysis was performed using either one-way (B and C) or two-way (E) ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests’. Scale bars = 200 μm (A and D), 20 μm (ROI).