L B: DRG explant culture (B1: MAP-2; B2: NF-200; B3: overlay of B1 and B2). Panel C: The percentage of migrating NF-200-IR neurons. The percentage of NF-200-IR neurons increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 20 different samples), Scale bar = 50 mm. *P,0.05. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gTarget SKM on Neuronal Migration from DRGFigure 7. Double fluorescent labeling of MAP-2 and GAP-43. Panel A: neuromuscular coculture (A1: MAP-2; A2: GAP-43; A3: overlay of A1 and A2). Panel B: DRG explant culture (B1: MAP-2; B2: GAP-43; B3: overlay of B1 and B2). Panel C: The percentage of migrating GAP-43-IR neurons. The percentage of GAP-43-IR neurons increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 18 different samples), Scale bar = 50 mm. *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gFigure 8. The mRNA levels of NF-200 and GAP-43. The mRNA levels of NF-200 and GAP-43 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.01, **P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gneuronal migration but also for maintaining NF-IR neuronal phenotype. GAP-43 is a membrane-bound molecule expressed in neurons. It is particularly abundant during periods of axonal outgrowth in development and regeneration of the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is known that GAP-43 mRNA is expressed in the DRG of adult rat and that GAP-43 is upregulated in DRG neurons during regeneration [47]. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA is higher in DRG neurons after peripheral nerve lesions [48]. A recent study has shown that the enhancement of neurites outgrowth is associated with the expression of GAP-43 in DRG MedChemExpress Ensartinib cultures [49]. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in primary cultured DRG neurons correlates very well with morphological changes of neurites degeneration [50]. The enhanced growth state is accompanied by an increase in the expression of GAP-43 in preinjured but not intact DRG [51]. In the present study, organotypic cultured DRG explants seem to represent an injured state, since the neurons are Tazemetostat site axotomized during culture preparation. In this experiment, the percentage of GAP-43-IR neurons, the levels of GAP-43 protein increased parallelly with its mRNA in the neuromuscular cocultures as compared with that in the culture of DRG explants alone. These results suggested that target SKMTarget SKM on Neuronal Migration from DRGFigure 9. The protein levels of NF-200. The protein levels of NF-200 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gFigure 10. The protein levels of GAP-43. The protein levels of GAP43 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gShandong University. All surgery was performed under anesthesia, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering of the animals.cells play an important role in neurites regeneration from DRG explants in vitro. The percentage of NF-200-IR and GAP-43-IR neurons as well as the number of total migrating neurons (the MAP-2-expressing neurons) increased significantly in th.L B: DRG explant culture (B1: MAP-2; B2: NF-200; B3: overlay of B1 and B2). Panel C: The percentage of migrating NF-200-IR neurons. The percentage of NF-200-IR neurons increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 20 different samples), Scale bar = 50 mm. *P,0.05. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gTarget SKM on Neuronal Migration from DRGFigure 7. Double fluorescent labeling of MAP-2 and GAP-43. Panel A: neuromuscular coculture (A1: MAP-2; A2: GAP-43; A3: overlay of A1 and A2). Panel B: DRG explant culture (B1: MAP-2; B2: GAP-43; B3: overlay of B1 and B2). Panel C: The percentage of migrating GAP-43-IR neurons. The percentage of GAP-43-IR neurons increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 18 different samples), Scale bar = 50 mm. *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gFigure 8. The mRNA levels of NF-200 and GAP-43. The mRNA levels of NF-200 and GAP-43 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.01, **P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gneuronal migration but also for maintaining NF-IR neuronal phenotype. GAP-43 is a membrane-bound molecule expressed in neurons. It is particularly abundant during periods of axonal outgrowth in development and regeneration of the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is known that GAP-43 mRNA is expressed in the DRG of adult rat and that GAP-43 is upregulated in DRG neurons during regeneration [47]. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA is higher in DRG neurons after peripheral nerve lesions [48]. A recent study has shown that the enhancement of neurites outgrowth is associated with the expression of GAP-43 in DRG cultures [49]. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in primary cultured DRG neurons correlates very well with morphological changes of neurites degeneration [50]. The enhanced growth state is accompanied by an increase in the expression of GAP-43 in preinjured but not intact DRG [51]. In the present study, organotypic cultured DRG explants seem to represent an injured state, since the neurons are axotomized during culture preparation. In this experiment, the percentage of GAP-43-IR neurons, the levels of GAP-43 protein increased parallelly with its mRNA in the neuromuscular cocultures as compared with that in the culture of DRG explants alone. These results suggested that target SKMTarget SKM on Neuronal Migration from DRGFigure 9. The protein levels of NF-200. The protein levels of NF-200 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gFigure 10. The protein levels of GAP-43. The protein levels of GAP43 increased in neuromuscular coculture as compared with that in DRG explants culture alone. Bar graphs with error bars represent mean 6 SEM (n = 6). *P,0.001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052849.gShandong University. All surgery was performed under anesthesia, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering of the animals.cells play an important role in neurites regeneration from DRG explants in vitro. The percentage of NF-200-IR and GAP-43-IR neurons as well as the number of total migrating neurons (the MAP-2-expressing neurons) increased significantly in th.