Sildenafil (Viagra) Protective Effects on Neuroinflammation: The Role of iNOS/NO System in an Inflammatory Demyelination Model
Figure 4
Immunohistochemistry for COX-2 ((a)–(c)) and immunofluorescence for Iba-1 ((d)–(f)). iNOS−/− control (a) showed very low COX-2 expression (arrow). After CPZ treatment (b), COX-2 labeling significantly increased, mainly in white matter, in relation to control. Animals treated with CPZ + Sild (c) also increased COX-2, comparing to the control group. A basal expression of Iba-1 was seen in control animals without iNOS (d). CPZ increased Iba-1 and induced an activated phenotype (arrowheads) of microglia (e). Sildenafil plus CPZ decreased Iba-1 and induced latent phenotype (arrows) of microglia (f).
