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Figure 4 | Journal of Neuroinflammation

Figure 4

From: Genetic background modifies neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation driven by misfolded human tau protein in rat model of tauopathy: implication for immunomodulatory approach to Alzheimer's disease

Figure 4

Qualitative and quantitative profile of activated microglia in two transgenic rat models of human tauopathy. Prominent microgliosis was observed by immunohistochemical staining with Iba1 antibody in both transgenic lines - WKY TG (A) and SHR TG (B) - compared to non-transgenic WKY (C) and SHR (D) age-matched controls. Stereological quantification revealed that the numbers of Iba1-positive microglia/macrophages in brainstem of both transgenic lines doubled in comparison with non-transgenic controls (G, two-way ANOVA, transgenic factor, *** p < 0.0001). There is also a tendency to a higher number of Iba-1 positive microglia in SHR TG rats compared to WKY TG. The morphology of microglia in brainstem of transgenic rats indicates a high level of activation including presumptive phagocytosis (E, F - arrows). In SHR TG rats, there are significantly more microglia showing phagocyte-like morphology than in WKY TG (H, two-way ANOVA, transgenic factor, *** p < 0.0001, genetic background factor, ** p = 0.001). Pre-fixed frozen sections. Scale bars: 50 μm for A-D, 20 μm for E, F.

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