Fig. 3

Human α-syn overexpression induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration associated with α-syn pathology in mice. a Stereological cell counts of SNpc TH-positive neurons (left two panels, n = 4 animals for each genotype) and mean grey values of striatal TH immunoreactivity (right two panels) at 20 weeks after surgery compared to non-injected side (white bars). Top panels display representative TH immunostaining at SNpc (left) and striatum (right) levels in the three mouse strains. b Volume quantification of the hα-syn immunostaining at the SNpc level (left two panels) and surface quantification of the hα-syn immunostaining at the striatal level (right two panels) at 20 weeks after surgery. Top panels display representative hα-syn immunostaining at SNpc (left) and striatum (right) levels in the mouse strains used. c Volume quantification of the p-α-syn immunostaining at the SNpc level at 20 weeks after surgery. Left panels display representative p-α-syn immunostaining at SNpc at macroscopic (left) and microscopic (right) levels in all mouse strains. d Covariance analysis of each parameter measured in all mouse strains. Data regarding TH pathway are expressed as a percentage of loss of TH fibers or cell bodies. Syn data are expressed as a percentage of immunopositive surface of the structure of interest. STR: striatum; * p < 0.05 vs non injected side of C57Bl/6 J mice; # p < 0.05 vs non injected side of the AKR/J background mice concerned. Scales: 1.5 mm for STR, 0.5 mm for SNpc and 20 μm for high magnification pictures of the C panel. hα-syn: human α-syn; p-α-syn: S129 phosphorylated α-syn