NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in the Brain after Global Cerebral Ischemia and Regulation by 17β-Estradiol

Figure 5

Increased expression of P2X7 receptor after GCI and its suppression by E2 treatment. (a) Representative confocal images stained for Iba1 (red), P2X7r (green), and NeuN (blue) show the activation of microglia and increased expression of P2X7r in the hippocampal CA1 region of young adult female rats 7 days after GCI. The P2X7 receptor colocalized very strongly with microglia (yellow color). This expression and microglial activation is suppressed by E2 treatment (magnification = 40x, scale bar = 50 μm). (b) Quantification of fluorescence intensity using MATLAB software shows a statistically significant suppression of P2X7 receptor by E2 at day 7 after GCI ( sham versus GCI; GCI versus GCI + E2) ( animals per group). (c) mRNA collected from rat hippocampus after GCI shows induction of P2rX7 gene and its significant suppression by E2 treatment at days 3 and 7 after GCI (, GCI versus GCI + E2) ( animals/group).

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