FIG. 7.
FABP5 siRNA penetrates injured spinal cord and blocks FABP5 mRNA and protein expression. Photomicrograph of spinal cord section from an animal receiving intrathecal FITC-tagged siRNA demonstrates penetration of oligonucleotides (A). Confocal microscopy revealed that most staining was localized in cells of the dorsal white matter in the CST area (B). Fluorescence was absent in the spinal cord sections from animals receiving non-FITC-tagged ODNs (C). qRT-PCR analysis of FABP5 siRNA-treated spinal cords showed a 60% reduction in FABP5 mRNA levels relative to animals treated with control scrambled sequence oligonucleotides (n = at least 3 animals per group; p < 0.05) (D). As recently reported,33 immunoblotting of cells treated with FABP5 siRNA showed reduced protein levels (E). CST, corticospinal tract; DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; dCST, dorsal corticospinal tract; FABP5, fatty acid binding protein 5; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; mRNA, messenger RNA; ODNs, oligodeoxynucleotides; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; siRNA, small interfering RNA.