FIG 6 .
De novo prions generate unique lesion profiles. (A) Levels of neuropathology of 10 brain areas from all mice in each group (n = 5) were given scores of 0 to 4 (0 indicating no neuropathology and 4 indicating severe neuropathology) for vacuolation (H&E), astrogliosis (GFAP), and PrPRES deposition. (B and C) Scores were summed and graphed for de novo prion-inoculated, terminally sick TgCerPrP mice (B) and nonclinical WT mice (C). Separation of lesion scores by criteria revealed significant PrPRES deposition in TgCerPrP mice that was absent in WT mice. Conversely, GFAP staining indicative of astrogliosis was relatively mild in TgCerPrP mice compared to the massive GFAP staining observed in nonclinical aged WT mice. Vacuolation scores of TgCerPrP and WT mice were similar. Cx., cortex. (D to G) Summed scores graphed on radar plots produced composite lesion profiles for comparisons. TgCerPrP mice inoculated with de novo prions (D) exhibited a unique profile with relatively less severe neuropathology overall than nonclinical aged WT mice inoculated with de novo cervid prions (E), terminally sick TgCerPrP mice inoculated with D10 (F), or RML-inoculated WT mice (G) (15).