Fig. 6

Transplantation of IL-13 Mφs induces a neuroprotective environment at the lesion site. a–h Immediately following injury, C57BL/6j mice received vehicle, M2 Mφs or IL-13 Mφs. a Quantification of the number cleaved (Cl.) caspase 3⁺NeuN⁺ neurons at the lesion site showed reduced neuronal cell death in the IL-13 Mφ group compared to vehicle. Data were normalized to vehicle and are shown as mean ± SEM. n = 3–8 mice/group. b Number of Mφs/microglia (Iba-1) and dystrophic axon (NF) contacts was significantly reduced in the IL-13 Mφ group compared to vehicle. Data were normalized to vehicle and are shown as mean ± SEM. n = 9–13 mice/group. c–e Representative images of the Cl. caspase 3-NeuN staining at the lesion site. Single stainings are shown above the merged image. Examples of double-positive cells are indicated by the white boxed regions (i–iii) and are shown at a higher magnification underneath. Scale bar = 100 µm. f–h Overview images of the areas from the lesion site used for quantification. The white boxed regions (i–iii) in images (f–h) are shown at a higher magnification underneath. The white arrows indicate examples of Mφs/microglia and dystrophic axon contacts. Scale bar = 50 µm. Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s correction (a) or one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (b). **P < 0.01