Fig. 1.

Immunofluorescent staining for myelin basic protein (MBP) in the forebrain of rats administered saline ((A, ×100, 100 µm) and dexamethasone (B, ×100, 100 µm) at P14, and confocal laser microscopic images of the corpus callosum of rats administered dexamethasone (C, ×400, 25 µm), double-stained on P5 using TUNEL and O4 antibody. Repeated administration of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg/day) from P1 to P5 reduced the immunofluorescent expression of MBP at P14 in the forebrain (B), compared with administration of saline (A). The expression of MBP decreased in the corpus callosum (CC), and its overlying supracallosal radiation. Many O4-positive cells with pyknotic TUNEL-positive nuclei (►) indicative of apoptosis were observed in the corpus callosum of rats administered dexamethasone.