Fig. 6

Neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the lumbar spinal cord of homozygous ANXA11-P36R knock-in mice. a Motor neurons (MNs) in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. MN numbers in homozygous mutant mice (R/R) declined compared with wild-type (+ / +) in 4-month and 9-month mice. Mutant MNs exhibited larger somas and fewer dendrites (amplified images, upper right). Histograms show a reduction in ChAT-expressing MNs. Representative images of GFAP-positive astrocytes b and IBA1-positive microglia c in the ventral spinal cord. Reactive astrocyte and microglial populations increased with disease progression in 2-, 4-, and 9-month-old mutant mice compared with wild-type. The loss of MNs and increase in reactive glial cells became significant in 9-month-old mutants. N = 3 mice, n = 12 sections per group. Scale bar, 200 μm. Data represent mean ± SEM; statistical analysis by t-test. *p < 0.05