Figure 4

EGFR phosphorylation is elevated in parallel with microglia activation in early-phase SCI. (A) Representative western blots reveal the elevated expression of pEGFR on days 1 to 14, peaking on day 1. (B) Fluorescent staining of CD11b (Green) demonstrates the gradient activation of microglias on day 3 after SCI. Bar = 500 μm. Double staining of pEGFR (Red) and CD11b reveals that pEGFR⁺ reactive microglias surround the cavity (C) and appear in the boundary zone (D), but not in other areas (E). Bar = 100 μm. Arrow, representative pEGFR⁺ reactive cells. pEGFR, phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor; SCI, spinal cord injury.