Fig. 3

Decorin prevented an increase in GFAP and AQP4 in the periventricular white matter. Representative images comparing the level of (a) GFAP immunostaining (green), (b) AQP4 immunostaining (red), (c) OX-42 immunostaining (green) and (d) MBP immunostaining (green) in the periventricular white matter; scale bar = 10 μm. a kaolin and kaolin + PBS rats displayed thickening of astrocytic processes (white arrow). b Accumulation of AQP4 staining was observed in kaolin rats (white arrow). AQP4 was further arranged around the circumference of blood vessels (yellow arrow). c Elongated, amoeboid microglia (yellow arrow) were particularly evident in kaolin rats. Microglia of kaolin + PBS rats were captured transitioning from branched resting microglia to activated amoeboid microglia (blue arrow). d Decorin treatment improved the myelin loss and disorganisation present in kaolin and kaolin + PBS rats (white arrow). Each corresponding bar graph displays the mean percentage of GFAP, AQP4, OX-42 or MBP positive pixels above threshold or background in the periventricular white matter across the four experimental groups; V lateral ventricle, error bars represent the standard error of the mean, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01