Figure 4

Inverted fluorescence micrographs of postnatal day (P) 0 pelvic plexus explants grown on collagen gels impregnated with various neurotrophic factors (A-D'). After 4 days, the explants were processed for Tuj-1 (A, B, C, D) and TH (A', B', C', D') imunohistochemistry. There was limited Tuj-1+ (A) and TH+ (A') fibre outgrowth from control gels. GDNF-impregnated gels produced significant Tuj-1+ (B) fibre outgrowth, almost all of which was TH+ (B') fibre outgrowth. Neurturin treated gels also stimulated significant Tuj-1+ fibre outgrowth (C), almost all of which was not TH+-fibre outgrowth (C'). The level of Tuj-1+ (D) and TH+ (D') fibre outgrowth from NT-3-impregnated gels was significant. Scale bar = 500 μm