Fig. 2
Histopathology, lesions profiles and vacuole size determinations. a: Hematoxylin and Eosin (H.E.) staining. VV120, VV121, VV121−20* and VV2 refer to the inocula. Tg129V, i-ii, VV120, VV121 and VV121−20*: Spongiform degeneration (SD) affecting more severely the cerebral cortex than thalamus. i-ii, VV2: Scant SD in the cerebral cortex and prominent in the thalamus. Tg129M, iii-vi, VV120 and VV121−20*: SD with large vacuoles. iii-iv, VV121: Mouse brain free of lesions. iii-iv, VV2: Cortical plaques; inset, iii: high magnification of a plaque. b and c: Profiles of brain distribution and severity of SD were similar in Tg129V mice challenged with VV120, VV121, and VV121−20* (b), and in Tg mice challenged with VV2 (c). d: Profiles in Tg129M mice inoculated with VV120 and VV121−20* were similar; VV121-inoculated mice were free of lesions. e: Vacuole size averaged from nine VV120 and three VV121−20* challenged mice was ~ 8 µm2 greater in Tg129M than Tg129V. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.003, ***P < 0.0001. CC: Cerebral cortex, HI: hippocampus, BG: basal ganglia, TH: thalamus, Hth: hypothalamus, BS.s: brainstem, superior, BS.i: brainstem, inferior, CE: cerebellum