Fig. 2

rmCHI induces morphological changes in microglia in the cortex as well as increased C3 activation. a Atlas image showing the location of the images captured via the confocal microscope (bregma −1.70 mm). b Representative 63x images of microglia (Iba1) in the cortex of non-injured mice and 12-impact rmCHI mice 14 days after the last hit. c Ramification index obtained from the 3D morph analysis. d Cell territory volume obtained from the 3D morph analysis. e Cell volume obtained from the 3D morph analysis. For c–e, number of replicates: no injury (n = 56 cells combined from 3 animals and 2 images per animal) and 12 impacts (n = 41 cells combined from 3 animals and 2 images per animal). Statistical analysis was performed via the Mann‒Whitney test. Mean +/− SEM. **=p < 0.01; ***=p < 0.001. f Brain Atlas image showing the location of the images captured via confocal microscopy (bregma–1.70 mm), along with representative 40x IHC images of C3 staining in non-injured and 24 h post the 12th impact in the rmCHI group. Red arrows indicate areas of increased complement deposition. g Quantification of C3 deposition in non-injured mice vs 24 h post last impact. A total of n = 3 animals per condition and 2–4 images per animal were acquired. Statistical analysis was performed via the Mann‒Whitney test. Mean +/− SEM. ****= p < 0.0001