Figure 3

Figure 3

Radiation-induced endothelial damage results insufficient blood perfusion into the brain. (A) Live example of images (each representative of 6 zebrafishes) depicting endothelial cells (green) of cerebral capillaries (right) and the tracer Dextran blue (MW 10 kDa) pericardial injected (left) in 0, 5 and 10 Gy group at 0 day, 2-day and 4-day post radiation. Scale bars, 100 µm. (B) Morphometric analyses of blood-perfused vessel branches in 0, 5 and 10 Gy group at 0 day, 2-day, 4-day post radiation respectively (n = 6 zebrafishes per group). (C,D) The fluorescence index of the zebrafishes whole brain injected with Dextran blue (C) and fluorescein sodium (Sigma F6337, 376 Da) (D) tested by fluorescein microplate reader in 0, 5 and 10 Gy group at 4-day post radiation (n = 6 zebrafishes per group). (E) Live example of images (each representative of 6 zebrafishes) depicting blood perfusion of zebrafishes brain in 0, 10 Gy and 10 Gy + Nimodipine group at 2-day and 4-day post radiation. Scale bars, 100 µm. (F) Morphometric analyses of blood-perfused vessel branches in 0, 10 Gy and 10 Gy + Nimodipine group at 2-day and 4-day post radiation (n = 6 zebrafishes per group). (G) The survival analysis of zebrafishes in 0, 10 Gy and 10 Gy + Nimodipine group (n = 10 zebrafishes per group). Statistical analysis in (C,D,F) was performed using t-test: **P < 0.05, ***P < 0.01. Data represent the mean ± s.e.m.