Figure 7.

scAAV9-STMN1 treatment restores microtubule filamentous networks in SMA mice. Tubulin filament immunohistochemistry from L3–L5 spinal cords of treatment groups. (A) Representative images of lumbar spinal cord ventral horn motor neurons stained with Nissl stain (neurotrace) and anti-BIII-tubulin antibodies conjugated to Alexa Fluor 594 to label microtubule filaments. Unaffected control tissues showed distinct filamentous networks (left panel), which were absent in untreated SMA ventral horn spinal cords (middle panel). STMN1 treatment restored filamentous networks in SMA lumbar spinal cords to a greater extent compared to unaffected controls. Maximum projection high-resolution confocal microscope images taken at ×63 magnification. (B) Quantifications of filaments per 25 μm² showed a significant increase in filament density in treated SMA spinal cord compared to untreated and unaffected controls. Data were analyzed by a one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Data expressed as mean ± SEM. ^****P < 0.0001, ^**P < 0.01, ^*P < 0.05, n.s. = not significant.