Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Lack of Cathepsin D in the central nervous system results in microglia and astrocyte activation and the accumulation of proteinopathy-related proteins

Figure 4

Increase in microglia and astrocyte expression in CtsD-CKO mouse thalamus. Immunohistochemical staining of microglia (Iba1; A,B) in thalami of CtsD-CKO and control mice at p25. Insets in (A) and (B) shows a magnified image of the respective boxed area. Arrows indicate thick processes; asterisks indicate expanded round cell bodies. Scale bar: 20 µm. (C) Iba1-positive areas in the thalamus of CtsD-CKO mice were compared with age-matched control littermates (**p < 0.03, from p19 to p25 mice, n = three sections form 3 separate mice). (D) An electron micrograph of a microglia-like cell (surrounded by white dashed lines) contains a neuron-like cell (surrounded by black dashed lines) with a nucleus (N) and numerous vacuolar structures in the CtsD-CKO thalamus at p25. Arrow, an elongated nucleus of an engulfed neuron. (E) A higher magnified image of an engulfed neuron in (D). Autophagosome (AV) and autolysosome (AL) like structures were accumulated in the neuron. Immunohistochemical staining of astrocytes (GFAP; F,G) in thalami of CtsD-CKO and control mice at p25. Insets in (F) and (G) shows a magnified image of the respective boxed area. Scale bar: 20 µm (H) GFAP-positive areas in the thalamus of CtsD-CKO mice were compared with age-matched control littermates (*p < 0.05, from p19 to p25 mice, n = three sections form 3 separate mice.).

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