Fig. 3

ShRNA-Mettl14 inhibited apoptosis of spinal neurons in SCI rats. ShRNA-Mettl14 was injected into SCI model rats using lumbar puncture via the caudal vein. The equal distance transverse sections on 2-cm spinal cord centred on the injured site were made at the 30th day. The apoptosis of spinal cord cells was detected by a TUNEL and b immunofluorescence staining, and the survival number of neurons was observed by c Nissl staining; the arrows indicate TUNEL-positive cells, NeuN + caspase-3 positive cells or Nissl stained neurons. N = 8. Each experiment was repeated three times independently. The data are expressed by mean ± standard deviation. The data in panels a–c were analysed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01