Figure 2

CD11b-labeld microglia/macrophages in spinal cord and nerve. Microglia or macrophages in the ventral spinal cord, ventral nerve roots, and sciatic nerve as assessed by CD11b histological expression. (A) CD11b-labeled microglia are evenly distributed in the ventral horn (VH, above dashed line) and in the ventral white matter (WM, below dashed line) of wild-type rats. (B) In pre-clinical hmSOD1 rats, focal increases in CD11b expression are often observed in the ventral horn. (C) After clinical onset, the extent of CD11b expression increases in ventral horn and to a lesser degree in the adjacent ventral white matter. Scale bar in panel A represents 200 μm for A-C. (D) There are very few CD11b-labeled resident macrophages in ventral nerve roots of wild-type rats. (E) After clinical onset in hmSOD1 rats, there is an increase in macrophages in the ventral nerve root. Scale bar in panel D represents 100 μm for D and E. (F) Very few CD11b-labeled resident macrophages are found in sciatic nerve of wild-type rats. (G) After clinical onset in hmSOD1 rats, there is an increase in macrophages in the sciatic nerve. Scale bar in panel F represents 100 μm for F and G.