FIG 2.

Treatment with rhEPO decreases endothelium activation and improves BBB integrity. (A) At 5 days p.i., three mice from each of the three groups (uninfected, P. berghei ANKA, and P. berghei ANKA plus EPO) were processed for histology with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical analysis with anti-ICAM-1 and -VCAM-1 antibodies. The arrows point to the cerebral microvessels. (B) Quantification of ICAM-1- and VCAM-1-positive vessels. ICAM-1- or VCAM-1-positive microvessels per microscopic field were quantified in 20 fields per mouse. The values are means and SEM from three mice in each group. (C) Representative brain images for qualitative evaluation of vascular leakage using Evans blue extravasation. (D). Quantitative assessment of BBB leakage shown as the optical density (OD) readings of brain extracts at 620 nm. The values are means and SEM (n = 3). **, significant difference at a P value of <0.05 (t test) between treatment groups.