Figure 5

GFAP and GS astrocytes in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD and their relationship with Aβ plaques. (A) Bar graph showing GFAP-IR and GS-IR astrocytes N_v differences in the distance (away; > 50 μm) and vicinities (around; < 50 μm) of Aβ deposits. Bars represent mean ± SEM. * p ≤ 0.05 compared to correspondent GFAP-IR cell N_v; # p ≤ 0.05 compared to GS-IR cell N_v away. (B-E) Confocal micrographs illustrating GFAP (blue), GS (red) and Aβ (green) labelling. Several GFAP positive astrocytes in surrounding Aβ plaques (< 50 μm) lack of GS immunoreactivity (1), whilst others, co-express GFAP and GS, without the typical extended GS domain (2). (3) Astrocytes > 50 μm away from Aβ deposits co-expressing GFAP and GS in their cell bodies and main processes (pink). The distal fine processes express just GS (red).