Fig. 3.
Diesel exhaust impairs microglial association with the neurovasculature. WKY rats were exposed to diesel exhaust (0, 50, 150, or 500 μg/m3) by inhalation for 4 weeks. The changes in the association of microglia cell bodies with the neurovasculature were assessed with confocal images of microglia (IBA-1, green) and vascular endothelial cells (CD31, red) in the hippocampus (4 slices per brain). Representative maximum intensity projection images are shown. The scale bar depicts 50 μm (top) or (20 μm) bottom (p < 0.05, n = 3) (a). The number of vessel-associated microglia in the CA-1 hippocampus was counted (p < 0.05, n = 3) (b). The total number of IBA-1+ cells in the confocal images was counted (p < 0.05, n = 3) (c). mRNA analysis of Aif1 (IBA-1) expression demonstrates no change in expression of IBA-1 in the hippocampus of WKY rats (p < 0.05, n = 7). Data are reported as the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 when compared to control