Figure 6
TLR4 deficiency attenuates pKr-2-induced neurotoxicity.
(a) Mice received an intranigral injection of pKr-2 (24 μg in 2 μL) and TH immunostaining was assessed one week after treatment. The pKr-2 treatment induced a decrease in TH-ip neurons and fibers in the SN and STR, respectively, in WT mice. However, neurotoxicity was apparently attenuated in TLR4 KO mice compared with WT mice. Scale bars, 500 μm and 20 μm for the SN and 1000 μm for the STR. (b) The preservation of DA neurons in the SN. The number of DA neurons in the SN was quantitatively expressed as a percentage of the value for the contralateral control side in each group. *p < 0.001 and **p = 0.037 vs. contralateral control side; #p = 0.042 vs. pKr-2-treated WT (n = 4, each group). (c) The OD of TH-ip fibers in the STR. *p < 0.001 vs. contralateral control side; &p = 0.014 vs. pKr-2-treated WT (n = 4, each group). (d) ELISA analysis of dopamine levels in the mouse STR. The levels were quantitatively expressed as a percentage of the value for the contralateral controls. *p < 0.001 vs. contralateral control side; §p < 0.001 vs. pKr-2-treated WT (n = 4, each group).
