FIGURE 5.

Blockade of VEGFR1 impedes the polarization of microglia to the M2 phenotype. Representative images of brain sections co-labeled with the microglia marker Iba-1 (red) and the M2 phenotype indicator arginase-1 (green). Images were taken from the somatosensory cortex adjacent to infarct core. Ameboid-like activated morphology is present under all MCAO conditions in the ipsilateral side. M2 polarizations are evident in most of the Iba-1 positive cells in the MCAO groups treated with vehicle, VEGF, SU1498 and the combination of VEGF and SU1498. Animals injected with the pan-VEGFR blocker Axitinib do not show labeling of M2 polarization in the activated microglia on the ipsilateral side. Bar equals 20 μm.