Fig. 3

Reducing astrocytic apoE decreases Aβ plaque levels and alters Aβ deposition. A Aβ plaque staining in the cortex and hippocampus of Cre-, Cre+, and APPPS1EKO mice. Representative images are of Aβ immunostained female brain sections using the HJ3.4 anti-Aβ antibody (orange). Scale bars = 1000 μm. B Aβ plaque load in cortex of Cre-, Cre+, and APPPS1EKO mice. Percent of cortex area covered by Aβ plaque was determined by analyzing HJ3.4 stained brain sections (n = 10–18). C Aβ plaque load in the hippocampus of Cre-, Cre+, and APPPS1EKO mice. Percent of hippocampus area covered by Aβ plaque was determined by analyzing HJ3.4 stained brain sections (n = 10–18). D Insoluble Aβ₄₀ levels in the cortex of Cre- and Cre + mice. PBS-insoluble cortical tissue samples that were further homogenized in 5 M guanidine HCl were analyzed by ELISA to determine the guanidine-soluble Aβ₄₀ levels (n = 9–19). E Insoluble Aβ₄₂ levels in the cortex of Cre- and Cre + mice. PBS-insoluble cortex tissue samples that were further homogenized in 5 M guanidine HCl were analyzed by ELISA to determine the guanidine-soluble Aβ₄₂ levels (n = 9–19). F Deposition pattern of Aβ plaque and fibrillar amyloid plaque staining in Cre-, Cre+, and APPPS1EKO mice. Representative images are of X-34 (blue) and HJ3.4 (orange) co-stained male brain sections. Scale bars = 50 μm. G Ratio of fibrillar Aβ plaques to total Aβ deposition in Cre-, Cre+, and APPPS1EKO. The ratio was determined by dividing the area of X-34 staining by the area of HJ3.4 staining. (n = 6–16) (A-F) * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001, and **** p ≤ 0.0001; three-way ANOVA and Sidak’s post hoc test in (B) and (C); three-way ANOVA and uncorrected Fisher’s LSD test in (D), (E), and (G). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. See Supplementary Table 1 for detailed statistics