Figure 4
STAT3 depletion in RGCs compromises IS-stimulated axon regeneration in the optic nerve. (a) Regenerating axons crossing the lesion site (asterisk) in longitudinal sections of optic nerves visualized with an antibody against GAP43. Scale bar: 100 μm. Animals were pre-treated by intravitreal injection of either AAV2-GFP or AAV2-Cre 2 weeks before optic nerve crush (onc) or onc+inflammatory stimulation (onc/is). Animals were killed 2 weeks later and optic nerves were dissected. (b) Quantification of regenerating axons at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mm beyond the lesion site in ONC/IS-treated animals injected either with AAV2-GFP (gfp) or AAV2-Cre (cre). STAT3 depletion in RGCs significantly compromised IS-induced axonal regeneration. Treatment effects: ***P<0.001. Values represent the mean of five animals per treatment
