Fig. 3

Hp OMVs induce astrocyte reactivity in vivo. a Confocal immunofluorescence of coronal brain sections from control and OMV-injected mice (10 µg) stained with DAPI (blue), and GFAP (green). The right panel shows merged GFAP and DAPI images, and the yellow dashed square shows the digitally enlarged area (scale bar = 20 µm). b GFAP fluorescence was quantified using mean green fluorescence intensity values measured with ImageJ (7 different fields) (scale bar = 20 µm). Values in the graph represent means ± S.E.M.; n = 3. *p < 0.05. c Confocal image, as described in a but stained with an anti-βIII tubulin antibody. d Confocal image as described in a but stained with an anti-Thy-1 antibody. White arrowheads in the enlarged pictures in c, d show extended or fragmented neuronal processes. Graphic representations of a neuron with an axon (black arrowhead) and dendrites (Control), and a neuron with fragmented staining of its processes due to cell damage (+ OMVs) are included