Figure 4.

PKCε inhibitor prevents OGD-induced dendritic spine morphology impairment. (A) Primary hippocampus neurons were transfected with green fluorescent protein at DIV5 and treated with PKCε inhibitor for 24 h and then OGD for 2 h at DIV17. Cells were visualized by confocal microscopy (scale bar, 10 µm). Lower images represent magnifications of the dotted region of upper images. (B) Number of protrusions from each group was quantified. (C) High-density cortical neurons were treated with inhibitor and OGD at DIV17. MTT assay was then performed (n=3 batches of neurons). Quantification of spine (D) length and (E) width (n=1,200-1,500 protrusions from ≥20 neurons). ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01 and ^***P<0.001. PKCε, ε isoform of protein kinase C; OGD, oxygen-glucose deprivation; DIV, days in vitro; WT, wild-type.