Fig. 7

ZP1609 reversed ultrastructural alterations of astrocyte gap junction in the hippocampus of mice exposed to long-term isoflurane anesthesia without affecting the tripartite synaptic structure. a Electron micrographs showing astrocytic gap junction in the hippocampus of each group. Astrocytic gap junctions are indicated by red arrowheads. Scale bar = 1 μm. b The width of gap was significantly enlarged in mice exposed to long-term isoflurane anesthesia and this effect was reversed by ZP1609 treatment (n = 6/group). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ANOVA with Fisher’s PLSD test was used for statistical analysis. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. c Astrocytes (cyan) make direct contact with neurons (lilac), forming tripartite synapses, where astrocytic processes are in close association with the presynapse and postsynapse at the synaptic junction. Scale bar = 1 μm. Veh, vehicle (phosphate buffered saline)