Figure 4

Dysfunction of astrocytes in A53T mice. (A-F) Representative images show the co-staining of GFAP (C, D, green) and aquaporin 4 (A, B, red) in the brainstem of symptomatic A53T mice (B, D, F) and nTg littermates (A, C, E). Aquaporin 4 was redistributed into the cell body and proximal processes of astrocytes in the symptomatic A53T mice (B, D, F). Scale bar: 20 μm. (G-H) Representative images show glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) staining in the epithelia cell of the symptomatic A53T mice (H) as well as age-matched nTg controls (G). The expression of Glut-1 was up-regulated in the A53T mice. Scale bar: 50 μm. (I-J) Double labeling of GFAP (green) and von Willebrand factor (vWF, red) in the brainstem of symptomatic A53T mice (J) and nTg littermates (I). The expression of vWF was elevated in A53T mice. Scale bar: 50 μm. (K-L) Representative images show double staining for IgG (green, arrowhead) and vWF (red) in the brainstem of symptomatic A53T mice (L) but not in the nTg littermate controls (K). Scale bar: 50 μm. (M-N) Representative images show the Prussian blue staining (nuclei were counterstained with fast red) in the brain stem of symptomatic A53T (N) and control mice (M). Scale bar: 20 μm. (O) Western blot analysis of the expression levels of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 and 2 (GLAST and GLT1) in the brainstem of A53T and control nTg mice. (P) Bar graph compares the levels of GLT1 and GLAST proteins in nTg, asymptomatic (A53T 1M) and symptomatic A53T mice (n = 3 per genotype). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.