Fig. 5

Effect of MK-deficiency on neuronal apoptosis activity after TBI. Caspase-3-positive cells were detected in the lesion and perilesional areas (a). A higher expression of the caspase-3-positive area was seen in Mdk^−/− than in the Mdk^+/+ mice at 7 days after TBI (b). Moreover, caspase-3-immuno-positive cells co-localized with a neuronal marker (NeuN), indicating neuronal apoptosis surrounding the lesion at 7 days after TBI (c). The populations of apoptotic neurons (arrow) were significantly lower in Mdk^−/− than in Mdk^+/+ mice (d). Data are presented as mean ± SE (n = 5 mice/group). *p < 0.05 (comparison with MK^+/+ and Mdk^−/−). ##p < 0.01 (comparison with 3 days and 14 days). Scale bar = 50 μm (all panels of a) and 25 μm (all panels of c)