Fig. 3: Neuropathology examination and DA measurement in the SNc-striatal pathway of VMP1^cKO mice.

A The IFC staining for the mDAergic neurons was performed by using the antibody against TH (red) in VMP1^cWT and VMP1^cKO mice. Scale bar, 100 μm. Scale bar of the high-magnification images, 15 μm. Quantitation of TH⁺ cells in the SNc (B) and VTA (C) from VMP1^cWT and VMP1^cKO mice, respectively (N = 3 mice per genotype). D IFC staining for the axonal density of the mDAergic neurons was performed by using the antibody against TH (green) in VMP1^cWT and VMP1^cKO mice. The nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 500 μm. Scale bar of the high-magnification images, 25 μm. E Quantitation of TH⁺ fiber density in the striatum from VMP1^cWT and VMP1^cKO mice (N = 3 mice per genotype). F Mean number of the enlarged axon terminals (area >0.5 μm²) per 0.05 mm² perspective (N = 3 mice per genotype). G The peak time of DA flux. DA concentration was assessed by HPLC in the midbrain (H) and striatum (I), respectively (N = 7 mice per genotype). Data were analyzed by using Student’s t-test and were represented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.