Fig. 3: Cldn5 heterozygous mice have reduced threshold for kainic acid-evoked seizures.

a Schematic overview of Cldn5fl/wt mouse. b Cldn5 transcript levels were significantly decreased Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice in isolated microvasculature (**p = 0.0023) and c whole brain (**p = 0.0014). d Claudin-5 protein expression significantly decreased in isolated microvessels of Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice (****p < 0.0001). Scale bar, 50 µm. e Schematic representation of electrode placement for electroencephalography (EEG) studies (top). f Increased total power in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice prior to kainic acid (KA) injection (*p = 0.0311). g Reduced latency to the first electrographic seizure (*p = 0.0432) in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice. h Percentage of mice entering status epilepticus (SE) following kainic acid injection. i Increased total power in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice following mildly convulsant KA injection (**p = 0.0015). j Increased seizure burden in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice following KA injection (**p = 0.0043). k Representative EEG recording post mildly convulsive KA injection. l Increased Racine score over time in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice (*p = 0.0148 at 20–30 min post KA injection). m Decreased latency to stage 3 seizures in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice (*=0.0459). n Increased racine score in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice post injection of KA (*p = 0.0474). o Increased GFAP (red) expression in Cre⁺Cldn5^fl/wt mice (**p = 0.0072). IBA1 (green) expression did not change (p = 0.0894). Scale bars, 50 μm. Data represent means ± s.e.m.; each data point represents one animal or vessel. Number of animals (n) is indicated on graphs. Two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test for Racine score over time; two-sided Mann–Whitney test for seizure burden; two-sided unpaired t-test for all other graphs. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.