(A and B) Differences in neurite outgrowth produced by overexpression of 16 cDNA clones in lentiviral expression vectors with an IRES eGFP expression tag in cultured adult C57BL/6 DRG neurons with Cdc42 as positive control. (A) Total neurite length and (B) number of neurites per neuron were quantified using ImageJ software (NeuronJ plugin), from 50 to 150 cells per view. Significant differences were determined by ANOVA with Bonferroni-Holm post hoc test; 10/16 candidates induce greater neurite growth.
(C) Knockdown of the top four selected genes using lentiviral delivery of shRNA with eGFP reporter in C57BL/6 DRGs. Transfected (white arrow) and non-transfected (blue arrow) individual DRG neurons are highlighted. Scale bar, 100 µm.
(D) Average total neurite length relative to control. All data shown is significant relative to control (p < 0.05, mean ± SEM).