Dusp14 regulates optic nerve axon regeneration and RGC survival in vivo. (A) Images show RBPMS (RGC marker) staining of RGCs at days 7, 10, and 14 after optic nerve crush, for either AAV2-shRNA Luciferase or AAV2-shRNA Dusp14 injected rats. (B) Dusp14 shRNA promotes RGC survival at 7 days after optic nerve crush. (C) Images show RBPMS (RGC marker) staining of RGCs at day 14 after optic nerve crush, for either wild type control or Dusp14 KO mice. (D) Dusp14 KO promotes RGC survival at 14 days after optic nerve crush. (E) Partial projections of sectioned optic nerve from Dusp14 knockdown and control optic nerve. Regenerating axons (arrowheads) were observed in Dusp14 shRNA-treated optic nerves but not in controls. †Crush site. (F) Significantly more fibers regenerated after shRNA-mediated knockdown of Dusp14. (G) Example partial projections of sectioned optic nerve from Dusp14 KO mice and control optic nerve. (F) No difference was detected in the number of regenerating axons in Dusp14 KO compared to controls. *Crush site (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test; n = 4 [A, B]; n = 5 [C, D]). Scale bars: 100 μm in (A), 500 μm in (C). Error bars: SEM.