Fig. 3
The GES modulated microglia activation in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice. (A) EF distribution to the hippocampus simulated by the FEM. (B) The DG region of the hippocampus was assessed for microglia activation modulation. (C) The 4-week GES modulated Iba1+ (green) cell activation in DG of 5xFAD mice. The morphological characteristics of microglia were analyzed for the number of Iba1 + cells, cell body size and length, and number of processes from Iba1 + cells. Along with the Iba1 + microglia activation, the reduction of Aβ42 (red) labeling was also detected. DAPI was used as a nuclear counterstain. Scale bars as shown. (D) The GES significantly increased the cell count of Iba1 + microglia in 100 and 200 µA groups than that in the sham group. (E) The GES significantly decreased the average cell body diameter of Iba1 + microglia in 100 and 200 µA groups than that in the sham group. (F) The GES significantly increased the numbers of the average Iba1 + processes in DG of 100 and 200 µA groups than that in the sham group. Data are mean ± SEM from the sham (n = 6 mice), 25 µA (n = 8), 50 µA (n = 8), 100 µA (n = 6), and 200 µA (n = 7) groups. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and *** P < 0.001 were considered significantly different for GES groups vs. sham