Fig. 6

Microglial deramification in both Nrf2-KO and WT mice following 100 dB SPL noise exposure. (a) Representative images of IBA1-stained microglia in the auditory cortex of Nrf2-KO and WT mice under control conditions, and at 5- and 14-days post-exposure. Both groups showed activated microglia at 5- and 14-days post-exposure (white arrowheads). (b-d) From 5 to 14 days after exposure, both Nrf2-KO and WT mice exhibited significant reductions in the number of microglial branches (b), total branch length (c), and an increase in the soma-to-cell size ratio (d). Activation indices were also elevated in both groups. No significant differences were observed between the Nrf2-KO and WT groups (n = 4 or 5). Scale bars = 50 μm and 10 μm. Error bars represent the SEM. ### indicates P < 0.001 compared to control. Nrf2-KO nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) knockout, WT wild-type, IBA1 ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, SEM standard error of the mean.