Deficiency in Serine Protease Inhibitor Neuroserpin Exacerbates Ischemic Brain Injury by Increased Postischemic Inflammation
Figure 3
Activation of microglia is increased in the absence of neuroserpin.
(A) Absolute numbers of brain microglia in the ischemic hemisphere of wild type, and Ns−/− mice 3 days after MCAO. Cell counts were determined by flow cytometry analysis of the CNS-infiltrating cells using TrueCount tubes. Brain microglia cells were identified as CD11b+ CD45intermediate. Representative dot plots show CD11b+ CD45high and CD11b+ CD45intermediate-gated populations identifying macrophages and microglia respectively. The graphs show means±SD of 9–12 animals per group analyzed three days after MCAO in three or four independent experiments. t test was used to assess statistical significance. (B) Immunohistochemical analysis of absolute numbers of Iba-1 positive brain microglia/macrophages in the ischemic hemisphere of wild type, and Ns−/− mice 3 days after MCAO. The graphs show means±SD of 3 animals per group. t test was used to assess statistical significance. (C) Immunohistochemical analysis of the activation state (resting, bushy and amoeboid) of Iba-1 positive microglia in the ipsilesional hippocampus and penumbra area and contralesional hippocampus area 3 days following 1 h MCAO. The graphs show means±SD of 3 animals per group and the statistical analysis was assessed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (scale bar = 20 µm).