Figure 1

Blood–brain barrier leakiness and Aβ deposition in the cortex of APP/PS1 female mice. Control female age-matched and APP/PS1 female mice were analyzed at ages of 6 months and 1 year old for amyloid plaque by staining with antibody against Aβ (red) and BBB permeability was assessed by FITC-dextran leakage (green) in the brain parenchyma. Low-magnification representative images of coronal sections of the brain cortex for Aβ (A) and of FITC-dextran leakage (B). The ROI is outlined with a white box and subsequent images are given at higher magnification of tissue corresponding to the ROIs for controls and transgenic AD mice. Nuclei were counterstained using DAPI. Experiments were repeated at least three times with similar results. The most BBB leakage is observed in the 1 year old APP/PS1 female mice. Scale bars, 200 μm and 50 μm respectively. (C) Quantification of FITC-dextran leakage in the cortex of the above groups. A significant increase in BBB permeability occurs in 1 year old APP/PS1 female mice compared to 6-month-old transgenic mice. Data are represented as means and SD for three mice for each group and analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. **p = 0.0041, ****p = 0.0001, ns non-significant. (D) Correlation of Aβ deposition and FITC-dextran leak in 6 months old and 1 year old APP/PS1 female mice. FITC-dextran leakage was positively correlated with age-dependent Aβ accumulation in the cortex. Correlation coefficients and p value are indicated. r Pearson’s coefficient; p significance.