Fig 2: Fgf9 CKO in GABAergic neurons induces neuronal apoptosis.A EEG recordings of other types of Fgf9 CKO mice associated with GABAergic neurons (CKONestin, CKOVGAT, and CKOVGLUT1) showing spontaneous seizures. B Schematic diagram describes that CKO Fgf9 in many different cell types. CKO mice with epilepsy indicated in red, and no seizure CKO mice indicated in black. C Caspase-3 colocalized with GABAergic neurons (calbindin) in the cortex of CKOVGAT mice by immunostaining. The density of calbindin (1156 ± 45.6 vs 364 ± 22.3, P = 0.0054) or caspase-3 (302 ± 28.1 vs 1324 ± 25.2, P = 0.0063) in the cortex of F/F and CKOVGAT mice. Scale bars, 100 µm. D Western blot analysis demonstrates higher caspase-3 expression in the cortex of CKOVGAT mice than in controls.

Fig 3: GFs-HP hydrogel reduces neuronal apoptosis at 28 d after SCI. A, Representative immunoblotting bands of Bcl-2, BAX, cleaved caspase-3 in the sham, SCI, HP, GFs and GFs-HP groups. GAPDH was used as was used as the loading control and for band density normalization. B-D, The optical density analysis of Bcl-2, BAX, cleaved caspase-3 proteins in five groups. Values were expressed as the mean ± SEM, n = 4 per group. &&& P < .001 vs the SCI group. * P < .05, ** P < .01, *** P < .001 vs the SCI group. # P < .05 vs the GFs group

Fig 4: Effects of DEX on apoptosis related proteins. (A) Representative blots (a) of Bax, Bcl-2, Cyt C, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3, and the densitometry of Bax/Bcl-2 (b), Cyt C (c), cleaved caspase-9 (d), and cleaved caspase-3 (e) signals. (B) Representative images of Cyt C IHC (a), and quantitative analysis of Cyt C (b) in kidney. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). **p < 0.01 versus CON group. #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 versus LPS group. &p < 0.05, &&p < 0.01 versus DEX + LPS group.