Fig. 6.

Upregulation of Cx43 precedes GFAP in the infarct region. Mice underwent pMCAO and were perfused after 3 h and 4 days. Sections were stained for Rabbit anti-Cx43 and mouse anti-GFAP. Cx43 expression preceded increased GFAP at 3 h after pMCAO and colocalized with GFAP after 4-days post-pMCAO. GFAP is an established marker for reactive astrocytes, which is observed in Day 4. At 3 h post-stroke, staining that positive for GFAP is indicated in the striatum (arrows); GFAP staining in the blood vessels in the infarct region (arrowheads) is due to cross-reactivity of the secondary anti-mouse antibody due to the presence of mouse IgG from the leakage of vasculature during acute phase post-pMCAO