Figure 6

IHC staining for anti-GFAP in the in the peri-infarct area at 3, 7, and 14 days after ischemia (magnification, A 40×; B 200×; C 400×). The number of GFAP-positive cells was increased in the aLA group when compared with the control group. In vehicle-treated animals, a greater infarct core region was clearly defined at 7 and 14 days, compared with 3 days. By contrast, the infarct core region was not well defined in aLA-treated animals, because of the presence of cells that had grown inside the infarct core region from the boundary of the lesion at 7 and 14 days. Furthermore, GFAP-positive cells with necrotic morphology, vacuolization (arrow), and loss of processes (arrowhead) in the peri-infarct area were markedly reduced in aLA-treated animals when compared with controls. In contrast, GFAP-positive cells had large cell bodies and multiple processes (star) in the aLA group. n = 3 rats/day/group.