Figure 2

Single acute treatment with FTY720 does not protect from kainic acid (KA)-induced neurodegeneration in vivo. (A) Schematic timeline of experimental protocol. FTY720 was applied as a single icv dose together with KA. Seizure score was evaluated at the end of the surgery observing the animals during 30 min intervals over a period of 2 h. Animals were sacrificed 3 days after icv injection and brain tissues processed for immunohistochemical analysis. (B) Effect of FTY720 (1 μg/2 μl, icv) on seizure-like behaviour induced by KA icv injection (0.5 μg/2 μl). Seizure was scored as described in the ‘Methods’ section, with the higher score indicating greater seizure severity. The mean seizure score for KA group (n = 6) and KA + FTY720 group (n = 6) was plotted against time after icv. (C, D) Quantification of the extent of the lesion in animal icv injected with KA (n = 6) and KA + FTY720 (n = 6) after Nissl’s staining. Eight slices per animal were evaluated. Area of the lesion and areas of CA3 and hippocampus were measured for each slice (mm²) in the ipsilateral side. The mean lesion area per animal was calculated and normalized to the mean CA3 or hippocampal areas (C, D). Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM of n = 6 animals for each experimental group (two independent experiments with 3 animals in each group). There is no significant difference between the two groups (B: Mann–Whitney test at any time point of recorded seizure score; C and D: Student’s t test).