Fig. 3

jmTBI leads to hippocampal neurodegeneration and SI/NB axonal alterations at 12mo post injury. A Decreased NeuN (neuronal) density as a marker of neurodegeneration was observed in the DG (A2) and ipsilateral CA1 (A4) of jmTBI compared to sham mice (A1 and A3) B A significant decrease in NeuN staining in the ipsilateral but not the contralateral regions of the hippocampus of jmTBI mice was observed. C APP staining in the ipsilateral CA1 region of sham (C1) and jmTBI (C2) mice revealed a fragmented staining patterns in stratum radiatum under the CA1 pyramidal layer in jmTBI (C2) compared to sham group (C1). Increased staining was observed in the CA1 pyramidal layer of jmTBI (C2) mice. D APP staining quantification showed an overall decrease in surface area staining in the jmTBI group. E Neurofilament NF200 staining was observed in the SI/NB of sham (E1) and jmTBI (E2). The intensity of the staining was higher in jmTBI group than sham mice (E1) F NF200 immoreactivity was significantly increased between groups (#) with significant differences found between sham and jmTBI on the contralateral side (*). B, D, F, Two-way ANOVA (# indicating global jmTBI vs sham differences) with Sidak post-hoc test (* indicates jmTBI vs sham differences in the DG or CA1 in B and C; and in the ipsilateral or contralateral in D and F). Data expressed as mean + SEM. # or *P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01. (passed Shapiro–Wilk normality test)