Fig. 2

Progressive loss of TH-immunoreactive LC cells after rAAV1/2-A53T-aSYN injection. a, b Representative images (Bregma − 5.40 mm) and unbiased stereology of TH-positive LC-neurons in A53T-aSYN (red bars, right column) or Luc (black bars, left column) overexpressing animals. Values (mean ± SEM) are expressed as cell numbers on the injected side compared to non-injected side (%). n = 8 per time point and group, two-way ANOVA analysis followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. c Representative confocal images of neuronal morphology after 9 weeks of protein overexpression. Pyknotic cell bodies and dystrophic axons were observed in A53T-aSYN, but not in Luc overexpressing animals. Scale bars 250 μm in a, 50 μm in c