Fig. 3

Stx2 and Stx2 + LPS produce reactive astrocytes. Representative micrographs of murine brain hippocampuses after 2 days of control, LPS, Stx2 or Stx2 + LPS treatments (A-H). Immunofluorescence using an anti-GFAP antibody (a, c, e, g). Merge images between anti-GFAP immunofluorescence and Hoechst histofluorescence (b, d, f, h, k). Control-treated mice (a-b); LPS-treated mice (c-d); Stx2-treated mice (e-f) and co-administration with Stx2 + LPS-treated mice (g-h). Negative control by omitting a primary antibody (i). Expression levels of GFAP from reactive astrocytes under all treatments at 2, 4, 7, and 20 days (j). A low magnification micrograph shows hippocampal layers: oriens layer (Or), pyramidal layer (Py), stratum radiatum (Rad) and the area analyzed in this study was Rad from the CA1 hippocampal area (the drawn square shows the area analyzed) (k). Different letters (a, b, c, d) above the columns indicate a significant difference between the 4 different i.v.-treated groups (j). The scale bar in Fig. I applies to all micrographs. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA, Bonferroni’s post hoc test, p < 0.05, n = 4