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. 2018 Mar 28;38(13):3358–3372. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3642-17.2018

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Immune activation is associated with activation of microglia in the BLA and ASD-related behavioral dysfunctions. A, Experimental design (see the main text for details). B, Confocal microscopic images showing immunohistochemical staining for IBA-1, a microglial marker, in the BLA in 13-week-old offspring mice from different experimental groups. C, Number of IBA-1-positive cells and IR of IBA-1 were increased in the offspring groups receiving the postnatal LPS injections, indicating a robust activation of microglia ∼12 weeks after the LPS injection at P9 (Veh_Veh group: n = 6 slides from 4 mice; Poly I:C_Veh: n = 8 slides from 4 mice; Veh_LPS: n = 5 slides from 3 mice; Poly I:C_LPS: n = 3 slides from 3 mice). D, Quantitative morphological analysis of microglia in the animal models of maternal and postnatal immunoactivation. Left, No difference was seen in the soma size of microglia in the BLA between experimental groups (Veh_Veh group: n = 50 from 4 mice; Poly I:C_Veh: n = 59 from 4 mice; Veh_LPS: n = 93 from 7 mice; Poly I:C_LPS: n = 36 from 3 mice). Right, Groups did not differ in the number of microglial ramifications (Veh_Veh group: n = 50 from 4 mice; Poly I:C_Veh: n = 59 from 4 mice; Veh_LPS: n = 93 from 7 mice; Poly I:C_LPS: n = 36 from 3 mice). E, Results of the open-field test. Left, Summary plot showing the percentage of time spent in the center of the arena. Increased anxiety-like behavior (less time spent in the center) was observed in Veh_LPS and Poly I:C_LPS groups relative to the control Veh_Veh group. Right, Plot showing the total distance traveled during the open-field test. Numbers of mice tested: Veh_Veh group: n = 28 mice; Poly I:C_Veh: n = 26 mice; Veh_LPS: n = 11 mice; Poly I:C_LPS: n = 17 mice. F, Results of the social interaction test. Left, Mice in Veh_LPS and Poly I:C_LPS groups showed impaired social behavior as they spent less time in the interaction zone with the novel conspecific mouse relative the control Veh_Veh group. Right, Distance traveled during the social interaction test. Numbers of mice tested: Veh_Veh group: n = 12 mice; Poly I:C_Veh: n = 17 mice; Veh_LPS: n = 11 mice; Poly I:C_LPS: n = 18 mice. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Error bars are SEM.