Chronic Exposure to High Altitude: Synaptic, Astroglial and Memory Changes

Figures

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  Figure 1. CEHA (12 weeks) results in hippocampal memory impairment. (A) No significant differences were observed during training. (B) HA mice spent significantly less time freezing when returned to the context test after 24hrs. (C) No significant differences were observed in the cued test. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 18 animals per group, *p < 0.05.

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  Figure 2. CEHA has no significant effect on synaptic density, PSD length or spine head diameter in the CA1 striatum radiatum of the hippocampus. (A) Total synapse density, (B) non-perforated synapse density (inset: arrows indicate single synapses), (C) perforated synapse density (inset: arrows indicate perforated-synapses), (D) PSD length (inset: black line indicate PSD), and (E) spine head diameter (inset: arrows indicate measured HD). Data represent group means ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group.

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  Figure 3. CEHA results in a significant decrease in the expression levels of SYP and SPH in the olfactory cortex. WB analysis of (A) SYP, (B) SPH, (C) PSD-95, (D) GAP43, (E) GFAP, (F) MBP (G) GLUR2, and (H) NMDAR1 protein levels. No significant changes were observed in PSD-95, GAP43, GFAP, MBP, GLUR2 and NMDAR1 protein levels. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Full length blots are presented in Supplementary Fig. 1 (GAPDH was done on each blot after stripping the protein of interest on each corresponding blot).

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  Figure 4. CEHA does not cause significant changes in synaptic protein expression levels in the hippocampus. WB analysis of (A) SYP, (B) SPH, (C) PSD-95, (D) GAP43, (E) GFAP, (F) MBP, (G) GLUR2, and (H) NMDAR1 protein levels. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6. Full length blots are presented in Supplementary Fig. 2 (GAPDH was done on each blot after stripping the protein of interest on each corresponding blot).

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  Figure 5. CEHA results in a significant decrease in the expression levels of PSD-95, GAP43, and GFAP in the cerebellum. WB analysis of (A) SYP, (B) SPH, (C) PSD-95, (D) GAP43, (E) GFAP, (F) MBP, (G) GLUR2, and (H) NMDAR1. No significant changes were observed in SYP, SPH, MBP, GLUR2 and NMDAR1 expression levels. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Full length blots are presented in Supplementary Fig. 3 (GAPDH was done on each blot after stripping the protein of interest on each corresponding blot).

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  Figure 6. CEHA results in a significant decrease in the expression levels of SYP and PSD-95 in the brainstem. WB analysis of (A) SYP, (B) SPH, (C) PSD-95, (D) GAP43, (E) GFAP, (F) MBP, (G) GLUR2, and (H) NMDAR1. No significant changes were observed in SPH, GAP43, GFAP, MBP, GLUR2 and NMDAR1. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group, *p < 0.05. Full length blots are presented in Supplementary Fig. 4 (GAPDH was done on each blot after stripping the protein of interest on each corresponding blot).