Fig. 1

Effect of MK-deficiency on brain tissue loss and recovery of neurological deficits. Tissue loss after TBI detected using coronal hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, including a section obtained from the center (dashed line) of the injury site and the macro brain photographed at 14 days (a). TBI led to an obvious tissue loss at 7 and 14 days. Three rectangular areas in all mice were used for the quantitative analysis of the immunolabeled areas at each time-point (b). Mdk^−/− mice presented a significantly reduced tissue loss than the Mdk^+/+ mice at 14 days after TBI (c). The neurological deficits in all Mdk^−/− mice were significantly ameliorated at 14 days after TBI (d). Data are presented as mean ± SE (n = 5 mice/group). *p < 0.05 (comparison with MK^+/+ and Mdk^−/−). #p < 0.05 (comparison with 7 days and 14 days). Scale bar = 1 mm (all panels). TBI, traumatic brain injury