Figure 5. Lovastatin treatment decreases ICAM-1 and CD11b expression and vascular permeability and induce HMOX-1 expression in the brains of mice with CM.

Panels illustrate histological examinations of cerebral cortex on day 6 post-infection, immunostained for ICAM-1 (brown and arrow) and counterstained with hematoxylin-eosin. Brain histology was examined using tissue from the following groups of animals: uninfected (A), uninfected treated with lovastatin (B), PbA-infected (C), and PbA-infected treated with lovastatin (D). Vascular congestion and edema (*) were observed in all PbA-infected mice, but were not seen in controls or treated animals. Scale bar: 50 µm. E: Dose-response relationships for effects of lovastatin on edema formation measured by Evans Blue Dye accumulation in the brain tissue on day 7 post-infection. F–H: ICAM-1, CD11b, and HMOX-1 expression in brain samples evaluated by semi-quantitative PCR on day 6 post-infection; *p<0.05 by Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test (n = 3–5/group). I-representative macroscopic image of Evans blue dye extravasation in the brain, demonstrating a marked reduction in PbA mice treated with lovastatin (20 mg/kg) on day 7-post infection.