Figure 6. Knockdown of EZH2 prevents neurodegeneration of Atm^−/− mice.

a) Representative images of cyclin A- and GFP-stained PCs show the effects of knockdown of ezh2. Scale bar, 50 μm.

b) Quantification of the cyclin A staining shown in panel a). Each bar represents the average of three independent experiments. Error bar = SEM.

c) Representative images of cleaved caspase-3- and GFP-stained PCs show the effects of knockdown of ezh2.

d) Quantification of the staining shown in panel c). Each bar represents the average of three independent experiments. Error bar = SEM.

e) Representative images of calbindin-stained PCs show the effects of knockdown of ezh2. The white arrows mark degenerating PCs with atrophy. Scale bar = 50 μm.

f) Quantification of the staining shown in panel e). Each bar represents the average of three independent experiments. Error bar = SEM.

g) Representative Golgi-stained images of the dendritic arbors and distal spine density of PCs show the effects of lentiviral delivery of shezh2 on degenerative progression in Atm^−/− cerebellum.

h–i) Quantitative assessments of dendritic profiles and density of PCs shown in panel g). There were significant differences in PCs dendritic profile areas (ANOVA; F_(2,14) = 3.6; p< 0.005) and spine density (ANOVA: F_(2,14) = 18.7; p< 0.01) between wild type and Atm^−/− mice. The dendritic profiles (F_(2,14) = 6.7; p< 0.005) and spine density (F_(2,14) = 13.6; p< 0.01) of Purkinje cells in Atm^−/− mice with shezh2 infection was significantly increased. The counted PCs cell numbers: n_{Atm+/+&shgdph} = 26, n_{Atm−/−&shgdpah} = 29, n_{Atm+/+&shezh2} = 27, n_{Atm−/−&shezh2} = 31.

Each bar represents the average of three independent experiments. Error bar =SEM.