Fig. 8: Pioglitazone rescues the PD-related phenotypes of PINK1 or Parkin deficiency.

a–g Fruit fly eggs were transferred to a medium containing 1 mM pioglitazone (+) or DMSO vehicle (−), and we performed the following experiments on 3- and 30-day-old adult flies. a, b Images of Drosophila thoracic (top panels) and wing posture (bottom panels) phenotypes (a) and percentages of the flies having abnormal phenotypes (b). The flies in right panels (Pioglitazone) were fed with 1 mM pioglitazone sucrose solution (+) and compared with controls fed with vehicle-containing sucrose solution (−). c Measurement of the climbing ability of the adult flies with indicated genotypes. + flies were fed with 1 mM pioglitazone sucrose solution. n = 10. d, e Images (d) and quantification (e) of the TUNEL assays of the adult flight muscles with indicated genotypes. + flies were fed with 1 mM pioglitazone sucrose solution. Green (TUNEL) and blue (DAPI). n = 10. Scale bars, 5 µm. f, g Immunofluorescence images (f) and number (g) of DA neurons in PPM1/2, and PPL1 regions of adult fly brains with indicated genotypes. Images of PPL1 regions were obtained from one of the left or right side of the PPL1 regions. Numbers of the DA neurons in the PPL1 regions were counted from both hemispheres. + flies were fed with 1 mM pioglitazone sucrose solution. Green (DA neurons). n = 10. Scale bars, 20 µm. For statistical analysis, one-sided Chi-square test was used (b). One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test was used (c, e, g). ****p < 0.0001. ***p < 0.001. **p < 0.01. *p < 0.05. ns represents not significant. Source data and the exact p values are included within the Source Data file. All data are presented as mean ± SD.