The effects of TGFβ, blocking TGFβ antibody, and nerve transection on Schwann cell death in neonatal nerves in vivo
| Treatment | % TUNEL- positive nuclei | Total nuclei counted |
|---|---|---|
| Not transected | 0.175 ± 0.03 | 12,000 × 4 |
| PBS | ||
| Not transected | 0.180 ± 0.21 | 12,000 × 3 |
| TGFβ | ||
| Transected nerve | 1.88 ± 0.15 | 12,000 × 4 |
| PBS | ||
| Transected nerve | 0.71 ± 0.09 | 12,000 × 4 |
| Pan TGFβ-antibody | ||
| Transected nerve | 1.78 ± 0.08 | 12,000 × 2 |
| Control SM1.2 antibody | ||
| Transected nerve | 2.92 ± 0.09 | 12,000 × 4 |
| TGFβ |
In every animal, the left sciatic nerve was operated and/or injected, and the right sciatic nerve was taken as control. Several sections were made from every treated sciatic nerve and observed under the microscope. One to two sections were randomly chosen for each animal. Approximately 12,000 nuclei were counted in each section. Two to four animals were used for each experiment.