Fig. 5
NT-3 re-upregulates the expression of low-level c-Jun and promotes peripheral nerve regeneration after chronic denervation. a Operational diagram of the NT-3 (8 W) group. b Western blotting used to analyze the expression level of c-Jun in the NT-3 (8 W) group and the distal denervated nerves for 8 weeks. c Relative quantitative analysis of c-Jun expression. Unpaired Student’s t-test, **P < 0.005, n = 3. d Immunofluorescence analysis of c-Jun expression in the distal denervated nerve; scale bar, 50 μm. e The expression of c-Jun analyzed by fluorescence intensity. Unpaired Student’s t-test, ****P < 0.0001, n = 4. f Western blotting used to analyze the expression level of c-Jun in the NT-3 (5 W), NT-3 (8 W), and control (−) groups, and the distal denervated nerves for 5 weeks. g Relative quantitative analysis of c-Jun expression. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test, ***P < 0.001, n = 3. h Schematic diagram of establishment of a regeneration model of the peripheral nerve after chronic denervation. Schematic representation of the NT-3 (8 W) group. i Representative images of peripheral nerve regeneration observed by immunofluorescence staining. S100β labeled myelin and NF-labeled axons; scale bar, 100 μm. j Statistical analysis of the number of regenerated axons per 10,000 µm2 in the two groups. Unpaired Student’s t-test, ****P < 0.0001, n = 12 from 4 rats. k Representative images of myelination of regenerated axons in each group were observed using TEM; scale bar, 2 μm. l Statistical analysis of myelination in the NT-3 (8 W) and control (−) groups show no significant differences. Unpaired Student’s t-test, n = 48 or 61 from 3 rats. All numerical data are presented as mean ± SEM