Fig. 3

Regulation of ctgfa expression during SC regeneration. (A) A series of transgene constructs were used to identify the cis-regulatory region that drives ctgfa-dependent EGFP expression after SCI. A minimum of three stable lines were generated for each transgene. (B) EGFP and Gfap immunostaining was used to assess reporter expression at 10 dpi and in uninjured control tissues. SC tissues from −5.5Kb-ctgfa:EGFP, −4Kb-ctgfa:EGFP and −3Kb-ctgfa:EGFP transgenic animals are shown. Cross-sections are shown at 150 µm (proximal) and 450 µm (distal) rostral to the lesion. Dashed lines delineate central canal edges. Arrows point to EGFP expression in ventral ependymal progenitors. (C) Quantification of EGFP fluorescence in −5.5Kb-ctgfa:EGFP, −4Kb-ctgfa:EGFP and −3Kb-ctgfa:EGFP transgenic animals. SC cross-sections 150 µm (proximal) and 450 µm (distal) rostral to the lesion were quantified. Dots indicate individual animals and sample sizes are indicated in parentheses. Error bars represent s.e.m. **P<0.01; *P<0.05 (unpaired t-test with Welch's correction). ns, not significant (P>0.05). Scale bar: 50 µm.