Fig. 7

TSG attenuated LPS-induced SN DA neuronal loss in vivo. Rats were treated with a single intranigral injection of LPS into the SN on one side of rat brain followed by daily intraperitoneal injection of TSG for 7 days. The brain sections were immunostained with anti-TH antibody. The “ellipse” presented the area of SN (a). Scale bar = 200 μm. The TH-positive neuronal number in the SN was counted (b) ( the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 3.200 and P = 0.111). The densitometry analysis of TH-positive DA neuronal staining from six evenly spaced brain sections from each rat was performed via ImageJ software (c) (the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 1.309 and P = 0.286). Rat behavior changes were analyzed via rotarod test. The time remained on the rod was recorded (d) (the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 4.119 and P = 0.089). The levels of DA and its metabolites, DOPAC, and HVA, in rat brain striatum, were measured by HPLC coupled with electrochemical detection (e) (DA: the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 4.585 and P = 0.065; DOPAC: the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 4.953 and P = 0.057; HVA: the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 3.643 and P = 0.121; Metabolite ratio: the two-way ANOVA interactions analysis showed F = 3.934 and P = 0.108). Data were the mean ± SEM from six rats. ^#P < 0.05 compared with control group; *P < 0.05 compared with LPS-treated group