Fig 2.
α-Synuclein−/− dopaminergic neurons are strikingly resistant to MPTP-induced neurodegeneration. α-Synuclein−/− mice and wild-type littermate controls were treated with a chronic (30 mg/kg/d for 5 d) or acute (80 mg/kg for 1 d) MPTP regimen, and were killed 21 d after the final chronic dose or 7 d after the acute dose. n = 4–9 mice per group. (A) Stereological counts of DA TH+ cell bodies after saline (gray bar), chronic MPTP (white bar), or acute MPTP (black bar). (B) TH antibody staining of the SN pars compacta (DA) after the two different MPTP regimens. (C) Quantitation (OD) of the intensity of striatal TH staining; legend as in A. (D) TH antibody staining of the striatum after two different MPTP regimens. (Error bars = SEM.) Both MPTP regimens produced significant reductions of TH+ DA neurons and striatal immunostaining in wild-type mice, but no significant changes in α-synuclein−/− mice (P < 0.05, Newman–Keuls post hoc).