Fig. 6
Comparable numbers of CR3-expressing cells/macrophages in Wallerian degeneration in CD47−/− and wild type mice. A Cells/macrophages were visualized in cryostat sections from Wallerian degenerating sensory saphenous nerves of wild type mice (WT; a, b, c and d) and CD47−/− mice (e, f, g and h) by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy using mAbs against αM/CD11b subunit of CR3 (red). Wallerian degenerating nerves were cross-sectioned 10 to 12 mm distal to lesion sites on days 1, 2 and 3 (1 d, 2 d and 3 d) after surgery. In intact nerves, CR3 immunoreactivity was barely detected in both WT mice (a) and CD47−/− mice (e). After injury, CR3 immunoreactivity increased progressively in both WT mice (b, c and d) and CD47−/− mice (f, g and h). Bars: 50 μm. B Absolute counts of CR3 labeled cells/macrophages (CR3+) in 100 µm2 of cross sections from intact (time 0) and Wallerian degenerating saphenous nerves (such as shown in A) at the indicated days after surgery. Box and whisker plots CR3+ expressing cells/macrophages in 6 to 18 sections from 4 different WT mice nerves and 4 different CD47−/− mice nerves that were sampled at the indicated days after surgery. Significance of difference from 0 days (intact) is *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.0001, by one-way ANOVA and the Dunnett posttest, calculated for each mice strain separately