Fig. 5

α-Synuclein fibril exposures in the SNpc promote pSer129-α-synuclein inclusions, progressive dopaminergic cell loss and striatal degeneration. Quantification of TH-expression and inclusions over time in 60 rats unilaterally injected with either monomer or α-synuclein fibrils, analyzed one to six-months post-injection. a Unbiased stereological estimates of TH-expressing neurons in the SNpc (normalized to un-injected contralateral SNpc) at one month, three months, and six months post injection. Data from monomer-injected rats are plotted in blue and fibrils in yellow. b Unbiased stereological estimates of pSer-129-α-synuclein inclusions in the ipsilateral SNpc. c Striatal TH-fiber density measured by TH immunofluorescence using LiCOR, with ratios presented from signal in ipsilateral-injected dorsal striatum divided by contralateral (uninjected) dorsal striatum. d Comparison plot showing the correlation of neuronal cell loss in the SNpc with striatal fiber density. Pearson’s r = 0.93, p<0.0001. e Representative images for TH and p-Ser129-α-synuclein immunohistochemistry at 3 months and f six-months post injection with α-synuclein fibrils. Scale bars are 0.5 mm and 50 μm (high-mag panels). Column graphs show group mean values and error bars show SEM. Data points represent mean values from individual rats. *p<0.05, Tukey’s post-hoc test and one-way ANOVA