Fig. 11
Combined Dlk/Lzk deletion using Dlkfl/flLzkfl/fl mice delays axonal degeneration in the optic nerve. a-b. Representative images from semithin sections of the proximal optic nerve 3 days post injury showing the protective effect of Dlk/Lzk deletion. Cre-treated optic nerve is depicted on the right (b) and control optic nerve from the fellow eye is shown on the left (a). c-j. Bar graphs with counts of axons in the optic nerve proximal (c-d and g-h) and distal (e-f and i-j) to the site of the initial traumatic disruption three (c-f) and 30 (g-j) days post injury in Dlkfl/fl (c, e, g, i) or Dlkfl/flLzkfl/fl (d, f, h, j) mice treated with Cre or control (GFP) vectors in the two eyes. There are eight combinations of genotype × proximal or distal location × early or late time point post injury. Of all combinations, the only significant effect on axonal degeneration is that of the deletion of both Dlk and Lzk in the proximal nerve early post injury (d). Data were analyzed with student’s t-test. * p < 0.05. Scale bars: a-b, 25 μm