Fig. 1. A, Schematic representation of numbers of axons in plantar nerves. Plantar nerves of P0−/− mice show a progressive axonal degeneration. At 1 month, ∼7% of axons are lost compared with age-matched wild types. At 3 months, degeneration occurs with a higher rate leading to 40% axonal loss. Axonal degeneration progresses with age, with a lower rate leading to ∼60% axonal loss in 1-year-old P0−/− mice. B, Schematic representation of axon numbers in plantar nerves of 1.5-month-old single and double mutants. P0−/−/C57BL/Wldsdouble mutants show a reduced axonal degeneration compared with age-matched P0−/−/wild type (WT) (p < 0.05).C, D, Schematic representation of numbers of axons in plantar (C) and median (D) nerves of 3-month-old P0+/+ and P0−/− mice with and without theWlds
mutation. Note that theWlds
mutation has no influence on axon numbers in P0+/+ genotypes. However, in P0−/− mice, loss of axons is significantly reduced in mice carrying the Wlds
mutation. InC, values from P0−/− mice heterozygous for the Wlds
mutation are also given, showing an intermediate axonal loss because of a dosage-dependent rescue effect of theWlds
mutation. Error bars are SDs. ***p < 0.0001; **p < 0.002; *p < 0.05. n, Number of individuals of the respective genotype investigated.hom, Homozygous; het, heterozygous.