Figure 2.

Increased F4/80-stained area in the adipose tissue of Neospora caninum-infected mice. (a) Representative immunohistochemistry analysis of F4/80 in gonadal adipose tissue (GAT), mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT), omental adipose tissue (OAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) from wild-type C57BL/6 mice 7 days after intraperitoneal administration of 1 × 10⁷ N. caninum tachyzoites (NcT) or PBS. Adipose tissue was specifically stained (brown coloration) with a monoclonal anti-mouse F4/80 antibody and counterstained with haematoxylin. (b) Frequency of stained area of analysed adipose tissue depots at 7 days and 2 months after challenge. Each symbol represents an individual mouse. Horizontal lines represent the mean values of the respective group. These are pooled results from three (7 days) or two (2 months) independent experiments. Statistically significant differences between different experimental groups are indicated (Mann–Whitney U-test, **P ≤ 0·01; ***P ≤ 0·001; ****P ≤ 0·0001). Immunohistochemistry analysis of F4/80 in stromal vascular fraction cells isolated from the GAT of infected C57BL/6 mice, killed 7 days after the parasitic challenge. Cells were specifically stained (brown coloration) with a monoclonal rat IgG2a anti-mouse F4/80 antibody and counterstained with haematoxylin. Cells with morphology compatible with macrophages (c) and polymorphonuclear cells (d) are observed. I.C. (Cells stained with Isotype Control, Rat IgG2a). Bar = 100 µm in all micrographs but IMAT where bar = 50 µm.