Fig. 6
Partial eNOS deficiency causes cerebral BBB breakdown and smooth muscle degeneration. a Angiography 60 min after injection of FITC-dextran (150 Kd), showing diffusive fluorescent signal as an indication of leakage vessels surrounding the occluded area. b Representative images with DAPI counterstaining shows parietotemporal cortical vascular extravasations of serum IgG (green, white arrowheads) in 18-month-old eNOS+/- mice. Scale bars: left panel 100 μm (inset, 20 μm). c Quantification of extravasated mouse IgG based on anti-mouse IgG immunoblot analysis. Note less expression of beta actin in hippocampus (Hipp) than in cortex (Cort). Values are normalized to beta actin (β-actin out of 20 μg total proteins) and expressed as mean ± s.e.m. *P < 0.05. n = 4 animals each genotype. d Immunofluorescent staining with anti-SMA (red) and/or anti-CD31 (green) antibodies in aged (18 months) wild-type and heterozygote eNOS mice. Left panels: arterioles in hippocampal fissure; right panel: parietal cortex. Arrows indicate degeneration of smooth muscle cells. Scale bars, 20 μm. e Representative images of Prussian blue staining (blue) in cortex in aged eNOS+/- mice. Scale bars, 20 μm. f Quantification of microhemorrhages based on Prussian blue staining **P < 0.0001. n = 5 mice each genotype. Bars represent mean ± s.e.m