Fig. 3

Dexmedetomidine altered brain I/R-induced increase of GFAP expression and Cx43 reduction. Brain sections of Fr1 area were harvested 72 h after 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion for immunostaining of GFAP and Cx43. a Representative of immunostaining images. b-c Graphic presentation of the percentage area that is GFAP and Cx43 positive in the ischemia-adjacent area. d Representative Western blot image for Cx43 expression in Fr1 area. Tubulin was used as the internal loading control. e Graphic presentation of Cx43 protein abundance. Results were presented as mean ± SD (n = 5) and analyzed using One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001. NS, normal saline. DEX, dexmedetomidine. YOH, yohimbine. GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein. Cx43, Connexin 43. MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion