Reduction of contactin-2 protein expression after spinal cord injury impairs axon regrowth of NMLF neurons.

<p>(A) Schematic illustration for retrograde tracing. Biocytin was applied at the site symbolized by the second lesion site at 6 weeks after the first lesion, and was detected in the NMLF after 24 hrs using Streptavidin-Cy3. (B) Retrogradely labeled neurons in the NMLF. (C) Numbers of retrogradely labeled neurons in the NMLF. Reduction of contactin-2 protein expression by application of contactin-2 anti-sense MO reduces the numbers of NMLF neurons with axons regrown beyond the first lesion site when compared to the control MO treated group (*p<0.05, t-test; n = 3 fish/group). The sham injury group shows similar numbers of retrogradely labeled neurons as the non-injury group. Scale bars, 200 µm and 50 µm.