Fig. 4

Assessment of astrocytosis in the cerebral white matter tracts. Density of GFAP-IR astrocytes in the corpus callosum (a), cingulum (b) and external capsule (c) was increased in LPS + hyperoxia animals compared with controls. hAEC treatment did not alter the density of GFAP-IR astrocytes in all regions (a–c). Percentage area covered by GFAP staining was increased in the corpus callosum (d), cingulum (e) and external capsule (f) in LPS + hyperoxia animals compared with controls. Interestingly, hAEC treatment reduced the percentage area covered by GFAP staining in all regions (d–f). Representative figures showing GFAP staining in the external capsule of control (g), LPS + hyperoxia (h) and LPS + hyperoxia + hAEC (i) animals. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; †LPS + hyperoxia versus control, p < 0.05; †††LPS + hyperoxia versus control, p < 0.001. Scale bar (g–i) = 150 μm. GFAP glial fibrillary acidic protein, hAEC human amnion epithelial cell, LPS lipopolysaccharide