Fig. 3: The expression of MFG-E8 on the mRNA and protein level and its cellular distribution after TBI.

Experimental TBI model in SD rats and the tissue around the lesion in cortex was sampled for western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analysis in this study (a). The mRNA and protein expressions of MFG-E8 were measured at 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days after TBI using western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (b). The mRNA and protein expressions of MFG-E8 were significantly increased at 24 and 72 h after TBI as compared with the Sham group (c, d). Representative immunofluorescence co-staining images of MFG-E8/GFAP, MFG-E8/Iba-1, MFG-E8/NeuN in the Sham group and TBI group (24 h). Astrocytes, microglial cells, and neuron cells are labeled with GFAP (green), Iba-1 (green), and NeuN (green), respectively. (MFG-E8 = red, DAPI = blue). Diagram of coronal rat brain section showing the location of lesion cavity (red) and photograph region (red squares). The quantitative data are the mean ± SD (n = 9 each; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 vs. Sham group; nsP > 0.05). Bar = 20 µm