Figure 2.

Pristane-induced arthritis downregulates the number of Ki67⁺, DCX⁺, and SOX-2⁺ cells as well as the DCX/Ki67 ratio in DA rats. (A) Representative immunofluorescent pictures show staining with anti-Ki67, anti-DCX, and anti-SOX-2 antibodies in paraffin-embedded sections of brain tissue obtained from male and female DA rats: control (treated with saline); PIA onset (between 9th and 12th day after induction); PIA peak (between 16th and 20th day after induction); PIA remission (between 20th and 25th day after induction). Arrows: Ki67⁺ cells. (B,C,E) DCX, Ki67, and SOX-2 immunoreactivities in the hippocampus/dentate gyrus. The number of DCX⁺, Ki67⁺, and SOX-2⁺ cells per mm² was manually counted in regions of interest (12 ROI/4 μm slide x 3 slides/rat × 6 rats/group). Values are expressed as mean value ± SD (N = 24). One-way ANOVA followed by the post hoc Scheffé test: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001. Inserts show staining in slides incubated without primary anti-Ki67, anti-SOX-2, and anti-DCX antibodies (negative controls). Scale bars indicate 50 μm. (D) The ratio of DCX⁺ to Ki67⁺ cells is expressed as a percentage (%).