Fig. 6

The effect of TLR4 signaling inhibition on axon and myelin integrity in L31-symp mice. In the prevention paradigm (a–d), a representative micrographs of sciatic nerve cross-sections showed partial axonal damage and myelin loss in vehicle group, which was not obvious in TAK 242-treated mice. Nerve structure in TAK 242 remain comparable to WT mice. b Semi quantitative analysis revealed a partial axonal and myelin loss (20%) in vehicle-treated mice, which was prevented in TAK 242 mice. c, d Assessment of myelin and axon area on randomly selected 100 myelinated axons revealed that in the vehicle group, even in the area where nerve structure seems preserved, myelin and axon area was reduced indicating that myelin could become thinner and axons could be atrophic, which were prevented by TAK 242. In the reversal paradigm (e–h), e representative micrographs of sciatic nerve cross sections showed massive demyelination and axonal loss in the vehicle group, TAK 242-treated mice showed an almost intact nerve structure which was comparable to control mice. f More than 70% of nerve structure was destroyed in vehicle-treated mice, which was completely rescued in TAK 242-treated mice. g, h Assessment of myelin and axon area on randomly selected 100 myelinated axons revealed that in the vehicle group, even in the remaining area where nerve structure seems preserved, myelin and axon area was significantly reduced indicating that myelin might become thinner and axons could be atrophic, which were rescued by TAK 242. n = 4–6/group; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001