Figure 3

Reduction of MHC II protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines 14 days after tMCAO. (A) Co-localization of MHC II (Cy3, red) and D1 receptors (Alexa 488, green) in the peri-infarct area 14 days after tMCAO; two cells are indicated with an arrow. Higher magnification of the area delineated in the merged low power micrograph. The asterisk indicates the infarct core. Scale bars: low magnification - 50 μm; high magnification - 5 μm. (B) Western blot analysis for MHC II in the infarct core of rats treated either with vehicle (VH, n = 4) or levodopa/benserazide (LD, n = 4). Levels of MHC II protein are presented as arbitrary units (AU) to the right. Data are displayed as means ± SEM, Student’s t-test, P < 0.05. (C) Levels of IFN-γ in the infarct core, (D) TNF-α and (E) IL-4 levels in the peri-infarct region from sham operated animals (VH n = 4; LD n = 4) and rats subjected to tMCAO (VH n = 8; LD n = 8). Results are presented as means ± SEM. Statistical differences were tested with two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc correction or Fisher’s Least Significant Difference test (italic). Letters denote P values; a) P = 0.043, b) P = 0.002, c) P = 0.021. d) P = 0.013, e) P = 0.016, f) P = 0.009, g) P = 0.032, h) P = 0.030, i) P = 0.008. Abbreviations: M, marker lane (kDa); S, sham operated animals; VH, vehicle; LD, levodopa/benserazide.