Immunofluorescence-staining within the ipsilateral cerebral cortex revealed astrocytes (A−C) and neurons (E−G) as the main source of interleukin-6-synthesis.

<p>In MCP-1-deficient mice, IL-6 signal pattern also showed double positive signals colocalized with astroctyes (D) and neurons (H) but with reduced intensity indicating a diminished IL-6 concentration on the translational level. Expression of IL-1β within the ischemic core was mainly restricted to neurons (I−K) in both wildtype and MCP-1-deficient mice, the latter displaying a reduced IL-1β-fluorescence intensity confirming the results of the expression analyses (L). Shrinked cell morphology indicates apoptotic processes within the infarcted core. Double immunofluorescence-staining also showed co-localization of G-CSF-positive cells and astrocytes (M−O), microglia (Q−S) and occasionally, neurons (T). In MCP-1-deficient mice astrocytic G-CSF secretion was clearly diminished, visualized by the reduction of fluorescence signal intensity reveals (P). Scale bar = 25 µm.