Fig. 5

Immunohistochemical studies of expression of mGluR5 and IBA1 in ALS brains and spinal cord. mGluR5 and IBA1 expression in the brain (a) and spinal cord (b) of ALS mice showed the active inflammation occurring in these regions following neurotransmitter release. mGluR5 was highly expressed in the entire brain, primarily in the gray matter. In the caudal diencephalon, mGluR5 expression was found in the striatum and hippocampus regions. Microglia which was stained by IBA1 was expressed at sites consisting of capillaries and neurons in these regions. In some areas, the microglial cell bodies were enlarged, while in some areas, the microglia were elongated. Both these morphological forms of microglia were indicative of inflammation. mGluR5 was expressed throughout the spinal cord and IBA1 was expressed in the gray matter as an indication of inflammatory processes