Figure 3.
NFATc4 is activated in AVCN neurons after CX during a critical period of development. A–D, Fluorescent photomicrographs of AVCN. CTL and 15 min CX, labeled with NFATc4 (red), DAPI nuclear counterstain (blue), and the colocalization of NFATc4 and DAPI (green). A, Marked colocalization of NFATc4 and DAPI is shown on the side ipsilateral to CX at P7. B, Magnification of the boxed area is shown in A. C (P14) and D (P21), Little to no colocalization in either the CTL or CX AVCN neurons after CX. E, Analysis of immunohistochemical images of mice deafferented for 15, 30, 45, or 60 min shows a time course for nuclear translocation of NFATc4. Nuclear NFATc4 significantly increases in the AVCN neurons at P7 (□) 15 min (23.62 ± 4.51%; n = 3; t = 16.14; ***p < 0.001), 30 min (6.71 ± 4.51%; n = 3; t = 4.58; **p < 0.01), and 45 min (4.78 ± 4.50%; n = 3; t = 3.27; *p < 0.05) after CX. P14 (▲) and P21 (○) AVCN show no significant increase of nuclear NFATc4 after CX for any of the time points. Scale bars: A, C, D, 75 μm; B, 25 μm. Data analyzed with two-way ANOVA.