Fig. 3

MaR1 dose-dependently promoted axon regeneration in vitro. MaR1 stimulated neurite outgrowth in DRG neurons grown in explant and dissociated cultures in vitro. Neurofilament staining was employed to examine the outgrowth of neurites in the DRG. A DRG neurons grown in explant cultures for 5 days and treated with (right) and without (left) MaR1. Scale bars = 100 μm. B DRG neurons grown in dissociated cultures for 36 h and treated with (right) and without (left) MaR1. Scale bars = 100 μm. C, D MaR1 increased the neurite length and number in a dose-dependent manner. DRG neurons cultured with MaR1 for 36 h. E, F The EC50 values at which MaR1 increased the neurite length and number were measured. G, H Comparison of the effects of MaR1 and NGF at the same concentration on increasing the neurite length and number. MaR1 and NGF were added in the culture medium. The data are presented as the mean ± SD, *p < 0.05 versus the control group; ^#p < 0.05 versus the NGF group, Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA