Fig. 8: Accumulation of the α-syn inclusions at the striatal axonal terminals in VMP1^cKO mice.

A IFC analysis for α-syn expression in the SNc was performed by using the antibody against α-syn (green) together with TH (red). The nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 100 μm. Scale bar of the high-magnification images, 10 μm. B The proportion of α-syn⁺-TH⁺ cells in the SNc was quantified (N = 3 mice per genotype). C IFC analysis for α-syn expression in the striatum was performed by using the antibody against α-syn (green) together with TH (red). The nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 25 μm. D Mean number of α-syn inclusions co-localized with TH in the striatum (N = 3 mice per genotype). E IFC analysis for Ub⁺ protein expression in the SNc by using the antibody against Ub (green) together with TH (red). The nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 100 μm. Scale bar of the high-magnification images, 10 μm. F The proportion of TH⁺ neurons in the SNc with Ub⁺ puncta was quantified (N = 3 mice per genotype). G IFC staining for Ub in the striatum by co-staining Ub (green) together with TH (red). The nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 25 μm. H Total area of Ub⁺ puncta (>0.5 μm²) per 0.05 mm² in the striatum was quantified (N = 3 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.