Effect of severe preeclampsia and magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) on in vivo blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to different sized solutes.

<p>(A) BBB permeability to sodium fluorescein was increased in rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC) in the posterior cerebral cortex compared to late-pregnant (Late-Preg) control rats. MgSO₄ treatment in rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC+MgSO₄) had no effect on BBB permeability to sodium fluorescein. (B) Permeability of the BBB to 70 kDa Texas red dextran was similar between Late-Preg and RUPP+HC rats with and without MgSO₄ treatment. * p<0.05 vs. Late-Preg by one-way ANOVA with <i>post-hoc</i> Bonferroni test.</p

Effect of severe preeclampsia and magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) treatment on microglial activation.

<p>(A) Illustration of morphological changes occurring as microglia progress from their inactive state 1, marked by long ramified processes to their active state 4, indicated by a large, amoeboid-like shape. (B) Representative photomicrographs of microglial cells stained for ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) in the posterior cerebral cortices of late-pregnant (Late-Preg) rats, rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC) and rats with severe preeclampsia treated with MgSO₄ (RUPP+HC+MgSO₄). (C) The number of Iba1⁺ microglia was similar between groups. (D) The percentage of microglia in active state 4 was significantly higher in RUPP+HC rats compared to Late-Preg controls. Treatment of RUPP+HC rats with MgSO₄ decreased the percentage of cells that were active and was similar to Late-Preg controls. <b>**</b> p<0.01 vs. Late-Preg and RUPP+HC+MgSO₄ by one-way ANOVA and <i>post-hoc</i> Bonferroni test.</p

Assessment of seizure severity in late-pregnant (Late-Preg) rats, rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC), and severe preeclamptic rats treated with magnesium sulfate (RUPP+HC+MgSO₄).

<p>Assessment of seizure severity in late-pregnant (Late-Preg) rats, rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC), and severe preeclamptic rats treated with magnesium sulfate (RUPP+HC+MgSO₄).</p

Physiological parameters in models of normal pregnancy (Late-Preg) and severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC).

<p>* p<0.05; ** p<0.01 vs. Late-Preg by ANOVA.</p><p>Physiological parameters in models of normal pregnancy (Late-Preg) and severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC).</p

Effect of severe preeclampsia on cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation and vasogenic edema formation.

<p>(A) Relative CBF (rCBF) increased similarly between late-pregnant (Late-Preg) and rats with severe preeclampsia (RUPP+HC) as arterial blood pressure was increased between 100 mmHg to 180 mmHg demonstrating intact autoregulation of CBF that was not different between groups. (B) Percent water content of the posterior cerebral cortex after CBF autoregulation measurements was similar between Late-Preg and RUPP+HC rats.</p