Figure 3.

Extent of neurodegeneration induced by single-sided injection of FeCl₃ into the barrel field cortex of mice knockout strains lacking specific components of PNs. (a–e) Typical examples of coronal sections cut through the lesion at its maximal extension. A volume of 0.2 μl 20 mM FeCl₃ was injected into the left barrel field cortex; degenerating cells were detected by Fluoro-Jade B staining 24 h later. Note that brain tissue volume affected by degeneration is significantly different in different mice strains. (a) WT; (b) ACAN^+/−; (c) BCAN^−/−; (d) HAPLN-1^−/−, (e) TN-R^−/−. Scale bar 500 μm. Quantification of lesion size determined on serial sections after staining with Fluoro-Jade B (f). In all mice knockout strains, lesion size was significantly larger than in wild type (WT). A lack of tenascin (TN-R^−/−) results in the most extensive spreading of degeneration. In brevican knockout mice (BCAN^−/−), heterozygous aggrecan knockout mice (ACAN^+/−) and mice lacking the link protein 1(HAPLN-1^−/−), lesion size is somewhat smaller. Data are expressed as mean values. Statistical analysis by Mann–Whitney test, n=5. *P<0.05