Fig. 3

LPS and cytokines increase AQP4 mRNA and protein expression in the brain cortex and astrocytes, and LPS increases water permeability of astrocytes. a The expression of AQP4 mRNA in brain cortex tested by Q-PCR following hypoxia exposure for the time points indicated (n = 6). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 compared with control; ^{& &} P < 0.01 (hypoxia 4 h vs hypoxia 1 h). b The expression of AQP4 mRNA in the brain cortex of rats determined by Q-PCR following injection of LPS for the time points indicated (n = 6). ***P < 0.001 compared with control. c Hypoxia + LPS and LPS increased AQP4 mRNA expression in brain cortex (by Q-PCR), ***P < 0.001 compared with control. d AQP4 protein expression in brain cortex was detected by western blot after LPS treatment at the time points indicated (n = 6). ***P < 0.001compared with control, ⁺⁺⁺ P < 0.001 vs LPS 10 h. e AQP4 mRNA expression and f AQP4 protein expression in astrocytes were detected by RT-PCR and western blot after LPS challenge (n = 3). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001, compared with control; ⁺⁺ P < 0.01, compared with 8 h. g AQP4 mRNA expression in astrocytes was determined by RT-PCR after LPS, TNF-α, or IL-1β treatment for 8 h (n = 3). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, compared with control. h Water permeability of cells increased by LPS challenge (n = 100). ***P < 0.001, compared with control. All the data are presented as mean ± SD