FIGURE 7.

Na_v channel blockers, calcium chelator, mitochondria protectors, and antioxidants reduce c-Abl activation induced by ACM-hSOD1^G93A. (A) Flow diagram of experiment. Spinal cultures (4 DIV) were exposed for 90 min to ACM-hSOD1^G93A alone or together with Na_v channel blockers: mexiletine (25 nM), spermidine (10 μM), or riluzole (100 nM); calcium extracellular chelator EGTA (200 μM); mitochondria protectors: CsA (10 μM) or Ru360 (5 μM). Next, immunostaining was performed to detect phosphorylated c-Abl in motoneurons (MAP2⁺/SMI32⁺ cells). (B–D) Graphs showing the c-Abl-P intensity after being treated with ACM-hSOD1^G93A alone or with the diverse Na_v channel blockers (B), calcium chelator EGTA (C), or mitochondria protectors (D). Values represent mean ± SEM from at least three independent experiments performed in duplicate, analyzed by One-Way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post hoc test. ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001 relative to control conditions, and #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 compared to DCF fluorescence with ALS-causing ACM at 4 DIV without blockers or antioxidants.