Figure 2

Artemin increases in peripheral sciatic nerve following Wallerian degeneration after spinal nerve ligation. A-C: NGF and artemin mRNA levels in the ipsilateral sciatic nerve were measured by PT-PCR. The NGF mRNA level increased at 14 and 21 days after SNL (B, n = 4, mean ± SEM, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 compared with naïve). Artemin mRNA levels gradually increased and continued until 21 days after SNL (C, n = 4, mean ± SEM, **p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001, compared with naïve). D-G: The area of the L5 spinal nerve in the ipsilateral sciatic nerve showed Wallerian degeneration in the bright-field microphotographs 14 days after ligation and ISHH revealed that artemin mRNA was in the same area as the Wallerian degeneration. Bars: 50 μm (D-G) POD; post operative day.