Figure 6.

Compilation of Abnormal Remodeling in the Cortical Grey Matter Layer III in Diabetic db/db and BTBR ob/ob Neurovascular Unit (NVU). Panel (A) is the control model and depicts the normal morphology of the NVU and the remainder of images are compiled from the diabetic db/db and BTBR ob/ob models. Panel (B1) (control with intact blood-brain barrier (BBB)) and (2–4) depicts the attenuation and or loss of the endothelial cell (EC) tight and adherens junctions (TJ/AJ) of the BBB. Panel (C1) depicts the highly electron dense endothelial glycocalyx (arrows) found in non-diabetic control models while Panel (2) depicts the attenuation and/or loss of the endothelial glycocalyx (arrows) by lanthanum nitrate perfusion fixation staining in the BTBR ob/ob diabetic model. Panel (D) depicts astrocyte foot process detachments from the endothelial neurovascular unit (NVU) with a nearby activated microglial cell (aMGC) and a labeled microbleed adjacent to the NVU in this low magnification image. Panel (E) depicts marked basement membrane thickening that is associated with the capillary NVU and note the detached astrocyte foot processes (ACfp) pseudo-colored red and the aMGC. Panel (F) depicts an aMGC (pseudo-colored red) that is encompassing the capillary NUV and note again the detached and retracted ACfp (drAC) (pseudo-colored cyan) with magnification ×2500 (not shown). These images display the remodeling changes that accompany the uncoupling of the NVU in brain grey matter in cortical layers III. Images in this compilation figure were modified with permission by CC 4.0 [27,32].