Fig. 4

SCF + G-CSF treatment in the chronic phase of severe TBI ameliorates TBI-induced dendritic spine loss in the contralateral cortex layer 2/3 neurons. a Representative images show the BDA-labeled dendrites and dendric spines of the contralateral cortex layer 2/3 neurons in different experimental groups. b A schematic diagram indicates the location of imaging area and the classification of the dendritic spines. c-f The data of quantifying the total number of all-types of spines (c), the thin and filopodium spines (d), the stubby spines (e) and mushroom spines (f) on the dendrites. Note that SCF + G-CSF treatment ameliorates TBI-induced spine loss. Each dot in the data graphs represents one dendrite. One-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s LSD test. Mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Sham: n = 45 dendrites (in 4 mice), TBI-vehicle: n = 48 dendrites (in 5 mice), TBI-SCF + G-CSF-single treatment: n = 43 dendrites (in 5 mice), TBI-SCF + G-CSF-repeated treatment: n = 52 dendrites (in 5 mice)