Figure 4

Cuprizone intoxication induces a robust demyelination of different brain regions in wild type (WT) and CXCR3-/-mice. A. Sagittal brain sections of WT and CXCR3-/- were analyzed for the degree of (de-)myelination at regions of the corpus callosum (Cc), thalamus (Th) and cerebellum (Cb) using immunofluorescence detection for myelin basic protein (MBP) and Luxol fast blue staining (LFB, bright field). Cuprizone-fed mice showed decreased MBP⁺ fluorescence signal in the frontal corpus callosum (Cc), thalamus (Th) and the nucleus of the cerebellum (Cb) in WT and CXCR3-/- mice after 5 weeks. No significant differences in the degree of demyelination were visible between WT and CXCR3-/- mice after LFB stainings. Pictures are representative of 4 to 5 mice per group at each location and condition. B. Quantification for Mbp, Plp1 and Cnp transcripts using TaqMan assays document equal level in WT and CXCR3-/- mice at all dissected time points of the experiment. The most rapid drop of myelinogenic gene expression has been documented at the acute stage of demyelination after 3 weeks of cuprizone diet. Upregulation of the level of myelinogenic transcripts were found after withdrawal of cuprizone for 4 days (5.5 weeks). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 4 to 5 for each genotype and time point.