Fig. 4: Gut microbiota depletion diminishes the neuroprotective effects of SVHRSP in rotenone-induced PD mice.

a Experimental design: mice were administered mixed antibiotics once daily for 3 weeks, followed by rotenone and SVHRSP injection 30 min later. After 3 weeks, behavioral tests were conducted, and fecal samples were gathered from mice in each group. b Rotarod activities of mice with or without Abx. c Numerical outcomes of stride length and distance in both forelimb and hind limb of mice with or without Abx treatment (n = 14–15). d Representative images of TH immunostaining in the SN and striatum of mice. Scale bars represent 500 µm. e Measurement of the number of TH+ neurons in the substantia nigra and the density of TH immunostaining in the striatum of mice (n = 5–6). f Representative bands of TH and Ser129-phosphorylated α-synuclein in the midbrain of mice. g Quantification of TH and Ser129-phosphorylated α-synuclein blots (n = 4). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.