Fig. 4: Caspase-3 is specifically activated at inhibitory synapses after febrile seizures (FSs).
From: Nonapoptotic caspase-3 guides C1q-dependent synaptic phagocytosis by microglia
a Dentate granule cells receive both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal inputs in the middle molecular layer (ML) of the dentate gyrus. The experiment was independently repeated 35 times with similar results. b Immunohistochemical images showing c-Fos together with excitatory (Reelin) or inhibitory (GAD67) neurons 1 hour and 4 hours after FSs. c c-Fos-positive neuron density at each time point after FSs. Mean ± SD, n = 5 (inhibitory, 0 h), 6 (inhibitory, 1 h), 6 (inhibitory, 4 h), 6 (excitatory, 0 h), 6 (excitatory, 1 h), 6 (excitatory, 4 h) mice, Dunnett’s test after one-way ANOVA. d, e Immunohistochemical images of cleaved caspase-3 with excitatory (VGLUT1) or inhibitory (VGAT) presynapses 6 hours after FSs. Arrows indicate synapses with colocalized cleaved caspase-3 signals. f Proportion of excitatory and inhibitory presynapses with colocalized cleaved caspase-3 6 hours after FSs. Mean ± SD, n = 4 mice, Tukey’s test after one-way ANOVA. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
