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. 2011 Mar 1;2:214. doi: 10.1038/ncomms1216

Figure 4. Distinct motor columnar identities of retinoid independent motor neurons.

Figure 4

(a) A schematic depicts the columnar arrangement and gene expression patterns of specific motor neuron subtypes in relation to different rostro-caudal portions of the neuraxis. QRT–PCR analysis of terminally differentiated MNs (9 weeks after mitogen withdrawal) for lateral motor column (LMC) markers (b) retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2) and (c) LHX1. (d) QRT–PCR for LHX3, a marker of the medial division of the medial motor column (MMC). (e) Immunocytochemistry of terminally differentiated MNs for the LMC marker FOXP1. (f) Quantification of FOXP1(high) and SMI32 co-expressing cells. (g) LHX3 and SMI32 immunocytochemistry (low- and high-power magnification, representative images of LHX3 and SMI32 immunolabelled retinoid-independent motor neurons). (h) Quantitative analysis of LHX3 and SMI32 co-expressing cells, and FOXP1(off) and SMI32 co-expressing cells in RA-independent and RA-treated cultures. (i) Immunocytochemistry of FOXP1(off)/LHX3−/SMI32+ cells (low- and high-power magnification, representative images of immunolabelled retinoid-independent motor neurons). (j) Quantified immunocytochemistry of FOXP1(off)/LHX3−/SMI32+ cells. Error bars in f, h and j represent s.e.m, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, Mann–Whitney rank-sum test, a minimum of three biological repeats were performed for each experiment. DAPI, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; LMC, lateral motor column; MMC, median motor column; NS, not significant; RA, retinoic acid, RA−, retinoid independent, RA+, retinoid treated. All scale bars, 50 μm.