Fig. 2
Comparison of EAE between Cx43 icKO and Cx43fl/fl mice. a Clinical scores of EAE (means ± SEM) over time in Cx43 icKO (red, n = 16) and Cx43fl/fl mice (blue, n = 14). Horizontal bars in the graph show the periods with significant differences between the two genotypes. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. b The AUC of clinical scores in the acute (dpi 7–18) and chronic (dpi 23–50) phases. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. c Immunohistochemical staining of the lumbar spinal cord from mice of each genotype at dpi 17. Cx43 icKO mice had fewer infiltrated inflammatory cells by HE staining (top row) and smaller demyelinated areas as shown by anti-MBP immunostaining and KB staining (second and third rows) than Cx43fl/fl mice. Anti-GFAP immunostaining showed no significant differences between the two genotypes (bottom row). Scale bars: 200 μm. d Quantitative analysis showed significant differences in MBP+ areas (top), but not GFAP+ areas (bottom), between the two genotypes. **P < 0.01. NS not significant