A. Representative images of GFAP+ astrocytes in the corpus callosum of placebo and E2-treated mice during cuprizone administration and recovery. The inset in the 3wk cuprizone, placebo image shows an example of a GFAP-positive cell (green, filled arrowhead) overlayed with DAPI nuclei counterstain (blue, open arrowhead). DAPI-overlayed images were used for quantification. Scale bar represents 50 micrometers.
B. Quantification of GFAP+ astrocytes. Individual data points and mean bars are plotted for 10–15 animals per group at each time point. There are no statistically significant differences between placebo and E2-treated mice at any time point. At the 3 and 5 week time points, E2-treated mice that exhibited the greatest protection from demyelination (Figure 2B) are indicated with filled circles.