Fig. 2
Experimental design of chronic in vivo Pb exposure and Pb levels in rat blood and selected brain tissues. A Graphical illustration of the experimental design to study the Aβ40 affinity to cerebral capillaries (cap.) and parenchyma (par.) via in situ brain perfusion technique and the effects of chronic Pb exposure. Capillary and parenchyma fractions of hippocampus, frontal cortex, and other brain regions were separated using a capillary depletion procedure for ELISA quantification of Aβ40 concentration; Western blot (WB) was performed to assess the LRP1 expression. B, C Blood Pb concentration and brain regional Pb concentration following 4 weeks of Pb exposure. D, E Blood Pb concentration and brain regional Pb concentration following 8 weeks of Pb exposure. Data represent mean ± SD, n = 4–8; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, as compared to the controls; #p < 0.05, as compared to the low Pb exposure group. ICA internal carotid artery, ECA external carotid artery, CCA common carotid artery