Fig. 3

TRPV4 affected the number of TH-positive neurons in the SN. After infused with 0.5 μl AAV-TRPV4 shRNAi or 0.3 μl AAV-TRPV4 bilaterally into the SN of mice for 21 days and administrated with MPTP at 30 mg/kg/day for 7 days, the SN was rapidly dissected out. The expressions of TRPV4 and TH in the SN were detected by Western blot. A AAV-TRPV4 shRNAi downregulated the expression of TRPV4 in the SN, and significantly inhibited the MPTP-induced increase in TRPV4 (n = 6). B AAV-TRPV4 upregulated the expression of TRPV4 in the SN, and further increased the MPTP-induced high levels of TRPV4 (n = 6). C Representative sample of brain slices with immunohistochemistry staining of TH-positive neurons in the SN of mice. Knockdown of TRPV4 rescued the number of TH-positive neurons, while upregulation of TRPV4 exacerbated the already reduction in the number of TH-positive neurons in the SN of PD mice (n = 3). D Knockdown of TRPV4 restored the expression of TH in the SN of PD mice (n = 6). E Upregulation of TRPV4 further decreased the expression of TH in the SN of PD mice (n = 6). All data are presented as mean ± SEM. Significant differences: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001