Fig. 4

Prdx6 expression alters plaque morphology and their penetrance by astrocytes. a Representative LSCM images of mature plaques triple labeled with X-34 (fibrillar core), anti-Aβ (HJ3.4 clone), and anti-GFAP antibodies from female mice of indicated genotypes demonstrating inverse relationship between Prdx6 gene dose and size of Aβ plaques and degree of plaque compactness expressed as a ratio between cross-sectional areas of Aβ plaque label and X-34 labeled fibrillar core. Prdx6 overexpression also is associated with increased penetrance of Aβ plaques by astrocytes, while in Prdx6 haplodeficient mice the number and caliber of plaque penetrating GFAP positive processes are diminished. Shown are quantitative analyses of: average Aβ plaque cross-sectional area b, plaque/core ratio c, and GFAP plaque index (GFAP⁺ % plaque area) d. Values in b and c represent mean (+SEM) from n = 70–90 randomly selected plaques per genotype, while those in d from n = 30 randomly selected plaques per genotype. p < 0.0001 in b, c, and d (ANOVA); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ****p < 0.0001 (Holm-Sidak’s post-hoc test). Scale bar: 10 μm in a