Fig. 4

Increased microglial activation in WM of IUGR newborns. a–c representative images of microglial expression in the intragyral white matter (IGWM), subcortical white matter (SCWM) and the periventricular white matter (PVWM) of P4 control and IUGR brains. d, e Increased microglial activation was noted in the IGWM of IUGR brains at both P1 and P4, with no significant difference in the number of ramified cells based on morphological analysis. f, g No significant difference in microglial morphology was noted in the SCWM in IUGR compared with control at P1 and P4. h, i Increased microglial activation was noted in the PVWM of IUGR brains at both P1 and P4. At P4, there was also an increase in the number of ramified microglia in IUGR brains compared with control. For d–i IUGR (P1 n = 6; P4 n = 6) and control (P1 n = 6; P4 n = 6). Values are presented as mean ± SEM. Two-way ANOVA with Sidak post-hoc test, significance between IUGR and age-matched controls *p < 0.05; **p < 0.005