Western blot analysis of tight junctional proteins occludin and claudin-5 in the CSF of mice with <i>A</i>. <i>cantonensis</i> infection.

The expressions of occludin and claudin-5 in the CSF tended to increase 3 weeks after infection compared to the uninfected mice (p = 0.057 and p = 0.0286, respectively). Dexamethasone administration only had marginal effect on the decrease of expressions of BBB junctional proteins occludin and claudin-5. Upper: Representative Western blots of claudin-5 and occludin in the different groups. Lower: Quantitation of claudin-5 and occludin in different groups. For each group, n = 5. All data are presented as mean ± SEM. Control: no parasitic infection; 1W: 1 week after infection; 2W: 2 weeks after infection; 3W: 3 weeks after infection; 3W + Dex: mice given dexamethasone for 2 weeks (7th to 21st day post infection) and sacrificed on day 21.