Figure 4

Preservation of VMAT2-ir cells in the substantia nigra. Microphotographs of VMAT2 immunostained coronal brain sections at the level of the substantia nigra of placebo (A, a), 2.5 mg/kg (B, b), and 5.0 mg/kg (C, c) pioglitazone-treated hemiparkinsonian monkeys. Rectangles in A, B and C indicate the location of high magnification images a, b, c. Scale bar: A, B, C = 1 mm; a, b, c = 325 μm. D: Stereological cell quantification showed a significant preservation of VMAT2-ir cells in the substantia nigra ipsilateral to MPTP insult in 5 mg/kg pioglitazone-treated group compared to placebo (*ANOVA; P = 0.04).