Fig. 3

Severed axons regenerate faster in CD47−/− mice than in wild type mice. A Axons from wild type mice (WT; a, b and c) and from CD47−/− mice (d, e and f) were visualized in cryostat sections by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy using anti-neurofilament Abs (anti-NF; red). Intact and freeze-crushed saphenous nerves were sampled 10 to 12 mm distal to lesion sites at the indicated days after surgery. At 2.5 days (2.5 d) after surgery, NF immunoreactivity decreased in both WT mice (b) and CD47−/− mice (e). At 4.5 days (4.5 d) after surgery, NF immunoreactivity increased markedly more in CD47−/− mice (f) than in wild type mice (c). Bars: 50 μm. B Absolute counts of NF labeled axons (NF-axons) sampled 10 to 12 mm distal to lesion sites at 4.5 days after surgery (e.g. c and f). Box and whisker plot of NF-axons in 10 sections from 4 different WT mice nerves and 11 sections from 3 different CD47−/− mice nerves. Significance of difference between WT and CD47−/− mice is ***p < 0.0001, by unpaired t test