Fig. 10: Anatomically segregated microgliosis of the ventral midbrain was significantly higher in COVID-19 when compared to pneumonia patients.
From: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins and genomic sequences in human brainstem nuclei
a Anatomical heatmap of activated microglia within the medulla oblongata in COVID-19. b, c TMEM119 immunoperoxidase staining of comparable regions of the midbrain in COVID-19 subjects (above) and controls (below). Inset: perineuronal microglia in the substantia nigra. COVID-19 subjects often present distinct microglial nodules. d Welch one-way ANOVA of microglial densities per counting fields (FOV) reveals statistically significant differences between FOVs of the Tegmentum (T; FOV1–2) when compared to FOVs of the Pes (P; FOV5–6), suggesting for a localized pattern of microgliosis comprising the preacqueductal tegmentum and the substantia nigra. e Welch one-way ANOVA between anatomical compartments (TG, tegmentum; TC, tectum; P, pes) between COVID-19 subjects (n = 23, red) and controls (n = 18, black) reveals statistically significant differences between all anatomical districts of the midbrain (p < 0.0001). f Welch corrected t-test plot of microglial densities (microglia/mm2) in the midbrain of COVID-19 subjects with (n = 5, red) and without (n = 16, black) Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes (p > 0.05), and of COVID-19 subjects treated (n = 10, red) and not treated (n = 11, black) with intensive oxygen therapy (p > 0.05). g Welch one-way ANOVA between anatomical compartments (TG tegmentum, TC tectum, P pes) between COVID-19 subjects with (n = 5, red) and without (n = 18) viral tropism (RT-PCR/IHC+ versus RT-PCR/IHC−) reveals statistically significant differences at the level of the midbrain tegmentum (p = 0.0074), but not other anatomical districts. Error bars indicate standard deviation.
