Fig. 3

Multiple gaps form in TJs at noncapillary small vessels post-SCI. a Gap formation (arrows) in TJs at small vessels post-SCI. Scale bar: left = 20 μm, right = 5 μm. b Magnification of representative immunofluorescence images of claudin-5, occludin and ZO-1. IM, immediate. The immediate time point for immunofluorescence staining meant mice were held 0 min post-SCI before being sacrificed. c Quantification of the gap density at claudin-5 at different time points with NT or TTM post-SCI. d, e Quantification of the gap density at occludin (d) and ZO-1 (e) at vessels 4 h post-SCI with NT or TTM. f–h The proportion of vessels showing gaps in claudin-5 (f), occludin (g) and ZO-1 (h) among the total vessels in c-e. n = 5 mice; a total of 51, 69, 58, 63, 68, 44, 51, 51 vessels in c; a total of 97, 129, 105, 115 vessels in (d, e). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001; nested, one-way ANOVA (c–e); chi-square test (f–h)