Fig. 2

Dual-label fluorescence immunohistochemistry of p-α-syn and PGP 9.5 in submucosal ganglia and nerve fibers. p-α-syn immunoreactive signals (red) were detected in nerve fibers visualized by PGP 9.5 (green) as inhomogeneous and punctate staining pattern in both controls (a-c) and patients with PD (d-f). However, not all of the PGP 9.5 positive nerve fibers were also immunoreactive for p-α-syn (arrowheads in c and f). Within submucosal ganglia visualized by PGP 9.5 (red) p-α-syn immunoreactive signals (green) displayed aggregates of different sizes mainly detected in neuronal somata of both controls (g-i) and patients with PD (j-l). No p-α-syn positive staining was found in cell nuclei, but slight punctate signals were discernible in the ganglionic neuropil. Nuclear counterstain with DAPI (blue), bars: 20 μm