Fig. 6

Activation of mGluR5 exerted the anti-inflammatory effects in an LPS-induced rat PD model. a Schematic illustration of the administration of urate to LPS-treated rats. b–d The apomorphine-induced rotational test (b), the rota-rod test (c), and the open field test (d) were performed 4 weeks later. e–h Representative images of TH immunoreactivity in the SN (e, scale bar, 500 μm) and STR (f, scale bar, 1000 μm). Quantification of TH-positive cells in SN was shown as the number of TH-positive cells in intact side and lesioned side (g). Quantification of TH-positive fibers in STR was shown as the ratio of the lesioned to the intact side (h). i–n Representative images of Iba-1 immunofluorescence staining in SN (i, scale bar, 50 μm) and STR (l, scale bar, 50 μm). Quantitative analysis of Iba-1-positive cells in SN (j) and STR (m), and the quantification of branch length and cell body diameter of Iba-1-positive cells in lesioned side of SN (k) and STR (n). o–q Western blotting analysis of brain lysates in SN were detected by various antibodies (o). Quantification of protein expression was normalized to β-tubulin (p, q). r The mRNA level of α-syn in SN region was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and normalized to that of GAPDH. α-syn, α-synuclein. Data shown in all panels represent mean ± SD (n ≥ 6). The statistical significance was determined using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. Rats injected with vehicle served as sham. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus sham group; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 and ^###p < 0.001 versus LPS lesioned group; ns, not significant