Fig. 4

Microglial morphology and mRNA expressions of cytokines and TSPO in the PVR at PND5. a Brain slices were stained with IBA1 antibody (microglial marker), and images (× 40) were randomly acquired from the corpus callosum from healthy controls, PBS, NAC2, G6D-NAC2, NAC5, and G6D-NAC5 groups and analyzed using the Neurolucida and Neurolucida Explorer software. The arrows indicate the traced cells. Scale bar, 20 μm. The G6D-NAC (2 and 5 mg/kg) treatment significantly decreased the soma size (b), the length (c), and the nodes (d) of the processes of the microglia, in comparison with PBS and NAC (2 and 5) groups. In addition, G6D-NAC (2 and 5 mg/kg) treatment decreased TNF-α (e) and IL-10 (g) mRNA expressions. No significant changes in the mRNA expression of IL-1β (f), TGF-β1 (h), and TSPO (I). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, compared with healthy controls. #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001, compared with G6D-NAC2 and G6D-NAC5