Fig. 2

IL1β levels are increased in hippocampus of PCS rats and are normalized by treatment with sildenafil. IL1β (a) and IL1β receptor (b) amount in the hippocampus were determined by Western blot in sham and PCS treated with saline or sildenafil (SILD). Representative images of the Western blots are shown. Values are the mean ± SEM of 12 rats per group. c–f Confocal images showing the expression of IL-1β and IL-1 receptor in neurons of the CA1 region of hippocampus of PCS rats. c, d IL1β signal (red), nucleus marker DAPI (blue), and neuronal marker Neun (green). Note the expression of IL1β in the CA1 region both in neurons (arrow heads) and no neuronal cells (arrows). e, f IL1β receptor signal (red) and Neun (green). Note the expression of the IL1β receptor in the pyramidal CA1 neurons. Scale bar 10 μm (c, d) and 20 μm (e, f)