Fig. 5
EtBr uptake and Fluo-4 fluorescence in astrocytes of midbrain slices treated acutely with MPP+ show both increased hemichannel activity and intracellular calcium alterations in astrocytes devoid of GR. a Representative fluorescence images showing GFAP+ astrocytes (green) and EtBr uptake (red) in acute SN slices prepared from control and GRCx30CreERT2 mutant mice under control conditions (ACSF), after 2 h of treatment with MPP+ (50 μM) alone and in presence of either the general connexin channel blocker carbenoxolone (200 μM) or EtBr homodimer. Scale bar, 5 μm. b Quantification of EtBr fluorescence intensity in GFAP+ astrocytes normalized to control ACSF condition (taken as 100) in GFAP+ astrocytes of control and GRCx30CreERT2 mutant mice after 2 h of MPP+ treatment. #p < 0.05 MPP+ vs ACSF, **p < 0.01 control vs mutant mice, error bars represent SEM. n = 3–4 mice/group. c Representative fluorescence images of Fluo-4 fluorescence in astrocytes, which was verified by sulphorhodamine (SR101) (upper panel) and after MPP+ treatment in control and mutant SN slices. d The Fluo-4 fluorescence, indicative of [Ca2+]i was quantified in control and mutant MPP+ midbrain slices. ##p < 0.02 mutant ACSF vs mutant MPP+, error bars represent SEM, n = 3 mice/group
