Fig. 5
CsA treatment reverses pathology in the Thy-1-α-synuclein transgenic mouse. a Motor function was assessed using the pole test in 12 month old non-transgenic (non-Tg) and α-synuclein transgenic mice (α-syn-Tg) treated for 8 weeks with vehicle solution or CsA (i.p., 20 mg/kg, 5 days/week). Results are presented as the total time (time to turn + time to descend the pole). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8-10 per group). ***P < 0.001 compared to respective non-Tg group, # P < 0.05 compared to respective vehicle treated group (one-way ANOVA). b: Cognitive function was examined using the novel object recognition test. The discrimination index was calculated based on 2 sessions performed 1 h apart. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8-10 per group). ***P < 0.001, (one-way ANOVA). c: Western blot analysis of striatal human α-synuclein and TH expression in non-transgenic and transgenic mice treated with vehicle solution or CsA (i.p., 20 mg/kg, 5 days/week for 8 weeks). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6 per group). ## P < 0.01 compared to respective vehicle treated group (t-test). d-g: Immunofluorescence staining of TH in the striatum (d), GFAP in the hippocampus (e), and MAP-2 (f) and synaptophysin (g) in the cortex of all experimental groups. Scale bar: 150 μm (d-e), 10 μm (f-g). Quantification of immunofluorescence intensity in the neuropil. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6-8 per group). ***P < 0.001 compared to respective non-Tg group, # P < 0.05 and ## P < 0.01 compared to respective vehicle treated group (one-way ANOVA)