LPC induced demyelination in the spinal cord of Prox1-CKO mice resulted in smaller lesions.

<p>(A-E) LPC injection in the spinal cord induced demyelination lesions in the white matter visualised as anti-MBP-negative areas (arrowheads), which were smaller in <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i> mice compared to heterozygous controls (compare B with D and E). In 2 out of 6 <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i> mice, the MBP-negative lesions were extremely small (E). Nuclear staining with DAPI revealed high cell density within the MBP-negative areas. (A’-E’) High magnification details of the MBP-negative lesions indicated by arrowheads in (A-E), which accumulated F4/80+ macrophages. (F) GFP+ F4/80+ cells are not found in <i>Prox1-CKO+/-</i>, suggesting Prox1 does not directly influence macrophages in this context. (G) Bar graphs showing that upon PBS mock injection (left) MBP-negative lesions are comparable in size in control and <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i> mice, but upon LPC injection (right) demyelinated MBP–areas are smaller in <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i> mice. Total lesion volume (far right) was also reduced in <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i> homozygotes compared to the heterozygous animals. Genotypes: Control: <i>Prox1F/+</i>, <i>Olig2-CreER</i> and <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i>: <i>Prox1F/F</i>, <i>Olig2-CreER</i>. GM: gray matter; LPC: lysolecithin. * p<0.05, Student t-test. Sample sizes: control, n = 5; <i>Prox1-CKO-/-</i>, n = 6; Horizontal sections, rostral is up, scale bar: 500 μm.