Fig. 4

Myrf ICKO does not alter Schwann cell myelination following SCI. a Overview images of spinal cord cross sections from control mT/mG and Myrf ICKO mT/mG mice stained with GFP, the Schwann cell myelin marker P0 and NF-200/SMI312 to label axons. In both Myrf ICKO and controls, P0+ staining is mostly confined to the dorsal column. b–e Single optical confocal micrographs in either the dorsal or ventral white matter of control and Myrf ICKO mice with the mT/mG reporter. In the dorsal column of control and Myrf ICKO mice there are P0+ sheaths around NF200/SMI312+ axons, some of which colabel with GFP. There are typically very few P0+ sheaths in either the ventral white matter of control or Myrf ICKO mice. f Quantification of the total density of P0 myelin sheaths (P0+) demonstrates there is no difference between groups at two WPI (df = 8, t = 0.128, P = 0.901, Student’s t test) or at six WPI (df = 10, t = 0.154, P = 0.880, Student’s t test). g Quantification of the density of newly generated P0 myelin sheaths (P0+ mGFP+) demonstrates there is no difference between groups at two WPI (df = 8, t = 0.218, P = 0.883, Student’s t test) or at six WPI (df = 10, t = 0.001, P = 0.999. Student’s t test). h The percentage of P0+ myelin sheaths, which are derived from PDGFRα+ cells relative to the total P0+ myelin sheaths do not differ between knockouts and controls at two WPI (df = 8, t = 0.621, P = 0.552. Student’s t test) or at six WPI (df = 10, t = 0.364, P = 0.724, Student’s t test). ns =non-significant. Scale bar = 100 µm (a), 10 µm (b–e). Error bars are mean ± SEM