Figure 2

Neurodegeneration is exacerbated in the SN of hemi-parkinsonian rats. Animals (5 rats per groups) were sacrificed at 21-day post 6-OHDA injection to characterize and quantify loss of dopaminergic neurons in whole SN. (B-G) Representative sections (~24 sections per rat) of SN were immunostained with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). (B,E) SN of 6-OHDA/Veh group, (C,F) SN of 6-OHDA/CAb group, (D,G) SN of 6-OHDA/BAb group. The bottom photos (E-G) are higher magnifications of the cells in black rectangles of ipsilateral SN in the upper photos (B-D). Scale bar: 1 mm (B-D); scale bar: 50 μm (E-G). Arrows: neurons; arrowheads: fibers. (A) Stereological cell counts of total TH-ir neurons on the ipsilateral side of the SN are shown as a percentage of the cells on the contralateral side (n = 5/group, # P < 0.0001). All the results were obtained in a two-blinded procedure. No significant difference was found between the group treated with 6-OHDA/Veh and the group treated with 6-OHDA/CAb (P = 0.5108). Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M.