Figure 4
Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody FB1 induces neurotoxicity in vitro. Behavioural studies in the offspring of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) mice. (a) Neuritic network formation in isolated foetal cortical neurons incubated with aPL and mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). Incubation with aPL antibodies induced a significant decrease in total length of b-III-tubulin-positive neurites, compared with untreated neuronal cells, suggesting abnormal development of cortical neurons. In the absence of complement component C3 (serum from C3-deficient mice), aPL did not affect neuritic network formation. Cells were identified as neurons by positive BIII tubulin staining. Five to six cortical neurons preparations were used for each experimental condition. (b) Offspring from APS show a significant decrease in the percentage of time spent in the centre and a significant reduction in the number of entries into the centre in the open-field test when compared with control group (*P<0.05) and mice born to mouse IgG-treated mothers (*P<0.05) consistent with anxiety-related behaviour. Five to six mice were studied in each experimental group. (c) In the elevated plus maze, offspring from APS mothers showed a significant decrease in the number of times they explore the open arms and the time spent in the open arms was also less when compared with mice born from control (*P<0.05) and mIgG-treated mothers (*P<0.05). Locomotor activity did not change among groups. Five to six mice were studied in each experimental group.
