Figure 2.

Nmnat activity delays axonal degeneration induced by treatment with the oxidant H₂O₂. A, Quantification of axonal degeneration induced by H₂O₂ treatment. DRG neurons were treated with the indicated dose of H₂O₂, and axonal degeneration was monitored after 24 h using phase-contrast microscopy (*p < 0.01 compared with GFP infected cultures; 3 fields per well, 6 wells per condition from duplicate experiments; error bars represent ±SEM). B, Representative images of DRG axons treated with 0–300 μm H₂O₂ after 24 h and visualized by phase-contrast microscopy. C, Expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis was performed using mRNA templates prepared from DRG neurons infected with GFP or Nmnat3 for 10 DIV. The mRNA levels of the antioxidant genes examined were not significantly altered by Nmnat3 (n = 3; each sample represents 5 pooled wells; p > 0.1 in all comparisons; data are from a representative experiment).