GLT-1-Dependent Disruption of CNS Glutamate Homeostasis and Neuronal Function by the Protozoan Parasite Toxoplasma gondii
Fig 2
Infection with Toxoplasma causes neuronal pathology.
Brain sections from naïve (n = 3) and 6 week infected (n = 3) mice were immunohistochemically stained for neuronal morphological markers A) 12-micron sections stained for ß-III Tubulin and quantified (p = 0.0012, scale bar: 90μm). B) Nissl staining of 40μm sections. Cortical layers labeled with roman numerals and representative ROI shown (square) and quantified (naïve: 34 ROIs, 1982 neurons; infected: 35 ROIs, 2073 neurons; p = 0.132) (scale bar 70μm and 18μm for ROI). C) Dendritic spines in the pre-frontal cortex were stained using the lipophilic dye DiI, and quantified (p = 0.0046) (scale bar: 7μm). D) VGlut-1 on 12μm sections of the frontal cortex (Scale bar: 15μm; insert scale bar: 8μm). E) Western blot and quantification of VGlut-1 from whole brain lysates (n = 3). All quantification was conducted blindly using Volocity software and significance tested using Student’s t-test ns = not significant; *** = p<0.001; ** = p<0.01.