Figure 2.

Rg1 ameliorated GJC dysfunction of astrocytes induced by CORT. (A1–A5) A scrape loading and dye transfer assay was used to assess the transfer of fluorescent Lucifer Yellow into contiguous non-prefrontal cerebral cortical astrocytes. Representative images of fluorescence captured in each group are shown. (B) Quantification of the fluorescence diffusion distance was performed using image analysis and expressed as percentages of the control values. CORT treatment decreased the distance of fluorescence dye diffusion, and all three concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 μM) of Rg1 pretreatment reversed the effect. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 8). Scar bar: 75 µm. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001. CORT, corticosterone; GJC, gap junction channel.