神经退行性病
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Figure 2｜Rapa protects against dopaminergic neuron loss in the SN of MPTP-treated mice.
Western blotting analysis showed that the α-synuclein level was significantly higher in the SN of the MPTP group than in that of the control group (P < 0.05 for each comparison; Figure 2A). Pretreatment with Rapa decreased α-synuclein expression compared with the MPTP group (P < 0.01 for each comparison).
Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the TH level and DA neuron survival in the SN. The number of TH-positive neurons in the MPTP group was significantly lower than that in the SN of control mice (P < 0.05 for each comparison; Figure 2B and C). Pretreatment with Rapa inhibited the MPTP-induced decrease in TH-positive neuron number (P < 0.05 for each comparison). Moreover, we investigated TH expression in the different groups. TH expression in the MPTP group was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05 for each comparison; Figure 2A). Pretreatment with Rapa significantly inhibited the decrease in TH expression in the SN compared with MPTP treatment alone (P < 0.05 for each comparison).