APOE Stabilization by Exercise Prevents Aging Neurovascular Dysfunction and Complement Induction
Fig 3
Microglia/monocyte density is increased in regions with pericyte loss in the aged cortex.
(A) Representative images showing extravascular deposition of FIBRIN (red) surrounded by microglia with increased LECTIN immunoreactivity (light blue). (B–C) A significant increase in IBA1+ microglia/monocyte cells (green) in the aged cortex coincides with the significant decrease of PDGFRβ+ pericytes (magenta) in the same region when compared with the cortex from young mice. (D) In the aged cortex, electron micrographs show active phagocytic microglia/monocytes (M) in close proximity to apoptotic cell bodies (AC) in close contiguity to a blood vessel (BV), to a degenerated pericyte (DP), and to a blood vessel with high transcytosis activity. Damaged axons (blue arrows) and vesicular bodies with cellular debris (magenta arrows) are also observed in these regions. In (C) values are relative mean + SEM to the young values, n = 4 mice per group, **p < 0.005 by unpaired t test. Scale Bars: 50 μm (A–B) and 2 μm (D). The data used to make this figure can be found in S1 Dataset.