Fig. 6
From: Complement system activation contributes to the ependymal damage induced by microbial neuraminidase
Effect of NA on the ependyma of rats under systemic inhibition of C5. A group of rats were treated with a monoclonal antibody for the systemic inhibition of C5. Some of them were icv injected with NA (C5-inh + NA; b, e) while others were not injected to serve as controls (C5-inh; a, d). The control group for NA-dependent ependymal damage was injected with NA but not systemically inhibited (NA; c, f). The ependyma of the injected ventricle was histologically evaluated, and the formation of the complement complex C5b-9 (MAC) studied by immunohistochemistry. In the rats under systemic inhibition of C5, NA produced some damage to the ependymal epithelium; the cells appeared flattened and presented a condensed pycnotic nucleus (b). However, the deposits of MAC were modest (e). These changes were mild compared to those provoked by NA in non-inhibited rats (c), where the ependymal epithelium was disrupted and MAC deposits were conspicuous (f). Rats C5 inhibited but not injected with NA showed an unaltered ependyma (a), and no MAC deposits at all (b). LV lateral ventricle, Ep ependyma, NP nervous parenchyma