Fig. 3

β-arrestin1 in astrocytes modulates cognitive impairments and astrocytic reactivity in the mouse model for POD. A β-arrestin1 protein levels in brain lysate of WT and β-arrestin1^−/− mice. B Experimental protocol and timeline of the POD mouse model. C Representative moving track plots (red curve) of mice in the second trial of Y-maze test. Blue box represents the novel arm. D Time (%) spent in the novel arm in the Y-maze test. E Bouts of novel arm entry in the Y-maze test. F Representative moving track plots (red curve) of mice in the probe trial of Morris water maze test. Black circle represents the invisible platform. G Latency (s) to reach the hidden platform in the probe test of Morris water maze test. H Crossing times in target quadrant in the probe test of Morris water maze test. I Representative immunofluorescent staining of GFAP in the hippocampus. J Analysis of GFAP-positive cell body area in the hippocampus. K Analysis of GFAP-positive cell numbers in the hippocampus. L Heatmap of the expression level of the neurotoxic astrocytes-specific transcripts in the hippocampus. M Expression of C3, Serping1 and Psmb8 in the hippocampus. N Densitometric analysis of C3, Serping1 and Psmb8. O Schematic diagram of the mice model with micro-injection of AAV-siβ-arrestin1 into the hippocampus. P Immunofluorescent co-localization of GFP and GFAP (red) after the AAV micro-injection. Q Representative immunofluorescent staining of GFAP (red) in the hippocampus. R Analysis of astrocytic reactivity by GFAP-positive cell body area and GFAP-positive cell numbers in the hippocampus. S Bouts of novel arm entry in the Y-maze test. T Time (%) spent in the novel arm in the Y-maze test. U Latency (s) to reach the hidden platform in the probe test of Morris water maze test. V Crossing times in target quadrant in the probe test of Morris water maze test. For C-M except for R, data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons test. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 and ^***P < 0.001 vs. the WT-CON group or NC AAV CON group. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 and ^###P < 0.001 vs. the WT-POD mice or NC AAV POD. For R, data are analyzed by unpaired Student’s t-test. ^*P < 0.05 and ^***P < 0.001 vs. the NC AAV POD group. n = 6 mice per group for immunofluorescent staining. n = 3 for western blotting. n = 7–10 mice for behavioral tests. Values are presented as means ± SEM