Fig. 8

Radar plots summarizing the effects of hydrocephalus on the striatal marker proteins that were investigated. Two-dimensional radar plots was used to depict the expressions of multiple proteins in acute and chronic hydrocephalus in reference to the expressions of their age-matched sham-operated control counterparts. Each axis shows the mean of the hydrocephalic (filled circle) and the corresponding control (empty circle) with 0 expression at the center and full expression out to the periphery. For each data point, the expression of the named marker protein was first standardized to that of the corresponding internal gel-loading control and then to the mean of the age-matched sham-operated group. The area enclosed by the lines connecting between the hydrocephalic or control data points of the adjacent axes represents the relative magnitudes of the expressions of the proteins of the hydrocephalic and age-matched sham-operated control rats respectively. The area enclosed by the data points of hydrocephalic group was shaded darker for easier visualization. Glutamatergic-related protein expressions are grouped and plotted in A and B, while dopaminergic and cholinergic modulatory action-related are shown in C and D. The expressions under acute and chronic hydrocephalus were plotted separately as indicated. Hydrocephalus affected glutamatergic connections instantly at the acute stage and persisted to the chronic phase. The effect on DR2 expression was however delayed and showed up during chronic hydrocephalus. VGLUT1, vesicular glutamate transporter 1; PSD95, postsynaptic density protein 95; GluR2/3, AMPA glutamate receptor subunit 2/3; DR1 and DR2, type 1 and type 2 dopamine receptors; ChAT, choline acetyltransferase