Fig. 6

Effect of IL-1β and TNFα blocking antibodies on the viability of ependymal cells co-cultured with NA-activated microglia. Pure ependymal cells were co-cultured with rat primary microglia, which were then activated with NA. In some cultures, blocking antibodies for specific cytokines (anti-IL-1β and anti-TNFα) were added. After 24 h, the viability of ependymocytes was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion, and the percentage of living ependymocytes calculated. Each point represents the mean + s.d. of n = 6–10 independent experiments, with ependymal and microglial cultures obtained from different rats. Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences between means (P < 0.001). Later pairwise multiple comparisons carried out by Tukey test pointed out that, as expected, the percentage of living ependymal cells decreased in co-cultures exposed to NA. However, such decrease was prevented by the addition of anti-IL-1β while, on the contrary, was not affected by the addition of anti-TNFα. Letters a and b above bars indicate the absence (if the same letter appears) or presence (if different letters appear) of a statistical difference (P < 0.001)