Fig. 7

Effects of maternal obesity on the hippocampal vascularization and coverage of capillaries by end-feet of astrocytes in offspring: no significant difference in the length density of CD31⁺ capillaries between two groups of mice (A); an example of the length density of AQP4⁺ capillaries measurement. The green lines (arrow) represent the intersection between isotropic virtual plane and the focal plane. Capillaries that are in focus and intersected by virtual planes are counted as positive AQP4.For estimating the reference volume, we use the four corner points of the box.Scale bar = 20 μm (B); a significant higher coverage of capillaries with end-feet of astrocytes (A) without changes in vascularization in offspring of obese dams (C); a significant positive correlation between length density of AQP4⁺ capillaries and number of astrocytic branches (D); a significant higher endothelial expression of LCN2, suggesting longer LCN2⁺capillaries, in the hippocampus of offspring of obese dams (E); examples of hippocampal endothelial LCN2 expression in the offspring of control (F) and obese dams (G). Scale bar = 20 μm; a significant positive correlation between length density of LCN2⁺ capillaries and number of astrocytic branches (H); a significant negative correlation between length density of LCN2⁺ capillaries and volume of hippocampus (I). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, (n = 6/group)