Fig. 4

Tissue preservation and cavitation was unaffected by splenectomy at 8 weeks following SCI. Cross-sectional (30 μm) serial sections (n = 4 per group) were stained with Luxol fast blue and H&E and systematically sampled at every 240 μm over a distance of 2400 μm, and unbiased measurements were made with a Cavalieri probe by using Stereo Investigator. Percent area of lesional tissue, gray matter, and white matter are shown (a). Data are expressed as percent mean ± SEM. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s multiple comparison was performed, and no significant difference was found between groups. Representative images are shown rostral and caudal to the injury site, as well as at the lesion epicenter (b). In vivo very high-resolution ultrasound (VHRUS) imaging (n = 8 per group) in B mode was also used to quantify the cavity volume (c). Data are expressed as percent mean ± SEM, and unpaired t test was performed with no significant difference between groups. Representative sagittal and cross-sectional (CS) VHRUS images are shown (d)