Figure 3.

Loss of function in TrkC⁺ neurons

(A) Survival rate of TrkC^CreERT2Avil^iDTR (red symbols, n = 10) and control mice (black symbols, n = 10) upon intraperitoneal administration of DTX.

(B and C) Ablation leads to a complete absence of TrkC⁺ neurons in DRG and of TrkC⁺/Th⁺ fibers innervating blood vessels. Immunofluorescence with Th antibodies on DRG sections (B) and whole-mount skin (C) from TrkC^CreERT2::Avil^iDTR::Rosa26^ChR2-YFP mice after DTX injection. Scale bars, 50 μm.

(D and E) Representative LSCI images of the ear of a control (D) and a TrkC^CreERT2::Avil^iDTR mouse (E) before DTX injection (0) and at 16, 24, and 32 h after treatment. Scale bars, 1 mm.

(F) Measurements of the vascularized area showed blood flow alteration upon ablation of TrkC⁺ neurons. ^∗p < 0.05.