Treatment with rAAV.EpoR76E decreased axon degeneration in the Balb/c optic nerve at 1-month post-blast. A-D) Representative brightfield micrographs of optic nerve cross-sections from mice given: (A) rAAV.eGFP pre-blast, (B) rAAV.EpoR76E pre-blast, (C) rAAV.eGFP post-blast, or D) rAAV.EpoR76E post-blast. Scale bar represents 10μm and applies to all images. (E, F) Bar graphs of the percent degenerating axons (E) and the total number of axons (F). Fewer degenerating axons were present in the post-blast rAAV.EpoR76E treatment group, *p<0.05.