Figure 5

Long-lasting protection of DAergic cell bodies in HCT1026 fed mice. Ageing mice fed with a ct or HCT1026 diet were submitted to MPTP subchronic regimen (15 mg kg^-1 for 5 cosecutive d) and sacrificed at differet time-intervals after MPTP. A-L: Representative confocal images of dual staining with TH- (green) and DAT- (red) -Abs of coronal midbrain sections at the level of the SNpc 7 and 40 d after MPTP. As observed, MPTP mice fed with a ct diet show a marked loss of TH⁺DAT⁺ neurons at 7 d (see panels A-C) and fail to recover 40 d following MPTP injury (G-I). By contrast, HCT1026 afforded a significant and lonlasting protection (see panels D-F and J-L). M: The total number of TH⁺ and Nissl ⁺ neurons was counted throught the entire rostro-caudal axis of the SNpc. Treatment groups were averaged (means ± S.E.M.) * p < 0.05 vs saline; *°p < 0.05, vs MPTP mice fed with a ct diet. HCT1026 significantly reduced the decrease of TH⁺ and Nissl ⁺ neurons observed up to 40 d in mice fed with a ct diet.