Fig. 6

ASC specks accelerated dopaminergic neurons degeneration and motor deficits. a Representative immunofluorescence staining of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons (green) in the striatum and substantia nigra compacta (SNc) of indicated mice brains. White dotted circles indicate SNc regions. Ipsilateral SNc regions in images are magnified below. b Quantification of percentages of relative TH positive cells in SNc (n = 3 or 4). c–e IB was performed to determine TH levels in bilateral striatum and SN of indicated mice brains (n = 3 or 4). Data are shown as representative plots c and bands quantified by densitometric analysis (d, e). f Latency to falling during the rotarod test was recorded and analyzed for each mouse. g Representative images of general locomotor activities and exploratory behaviors of indicated mice in the open field test. h, i Total distance traveled and distance traveled in middle zone were recorded and analyzed for each mouse. Data are presented as mean ± SEM and are analyzed by one-way or two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Significance levels are denoted as: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; ^##p < 0.01; ns no significant. Scale bars are as indicated. L left, R right, SNc substantia nigra compacta, SN substantia nigra