Figure 5

Hindlimb motor function changes after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) via microglia. (a) Experimental scheme. (b) Validation of the Infinite Horizons Impactor device for mouse contusion SCI using actual impact force, calculated displacement measurements, and tip velocity. (c) Sample immunohistology sections of the spine with PLX treatment showing microglial loss (stained using Iba1, red). Scale bar: 500 μm. (d) Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) score at pre-operation day (Pre), post-operation day (POD)2, POD4, and POD7 in the SCI + tDCS + PLX−/SCI + tDCS − PLX− (left) and SCI + tDCS + PLX−/SCI + tDCS + PLX+ groups (right). Note that both tDCS+ data in these graphs replot the same data. (e) Modified Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score at Pre, POD2, POD4, and POD7 in the SCI + tDCS + PLX−/SCI + tDCS − PLX− (left) and SCI + tDCS + PLX−/SCI + tDCS + PLX+ groups (right). Note that both tDCS+ data in these graphs replot the same data. The thin lines represent the data for individual mice, and the thick lines present the average value. n = 5 mice per group (b, d, and e). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test (c) and one-way (b) or two-way repeated (d, e) ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests.