Figure 6.

VegfR2 inhibition decreases Vegf-A expression and macrophage cell numbers after nerve injury. A, CBZ, a VegfR2 inhibitor, treatment (daily from days 6 to 13 following nerve injury) decreased Vegf-A protein expression at 14 d after nerve injury compared with saline-gavaged control mice. B, In control mice, Vegf-A mRNA expression was elevated by 14 d postinjury, peaked at 21 d, and returned to baseline by 28 d. CBZ inhibited Vegf-A mRNA expression at days 14 and 21 postinjury, but the effect was not sustained by day 28. C–E, CBZ resulted in significantly decreased macrophage numbers at all time points. Arrows point to CD68+ cells (pseudocolored in gray in C, D). α‐Bungarotoxin staining of (BTX purple) demonstrates relationship of macrophages near NMJs. F–H, The percent of macrophages (green) colocalizing (arrows) with Vegf-A (red) was significantly less in the CBZ-treated group than saline-treated controls at day 14. The magnified images of single cells in F', G' highlight the colocalization of Vegf-A with a macrophages via isolated color channels. Vegf-A Ab (red), CD68 Ab = macrophages (green), BTX = α‐bungarotoxin (endplates, purple), DAPI = nuclear staining (blue). Scale bar: 20 μm. Data: mean ± SD; N = 3–5 mice/treatment/time point; *p < 0.05.