The absence of significant decreases in the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) or the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), a structural marker associated with dendritic growth [39], suggested that general infection-induced denervation was not linked with the cardiac abnormalities seen with this infection model, at least during the acute stage. The gene discussed is UCHL1; the disease is infection.