Fig. 1

Morphology of the PF nucleus over the R6/2 mouse lifespan compared to WT controls. (a) There is a significant decrease in neuronal area at 9 (p = 0.03) and 13 wks (p = 0.01) in R6/2 compared to WT mice, based on analysis with the nucleator, an unbiased stereology probe. (b) Loss of PF neurons in R6/2 compared to WT mice at 11 wks (p = 0.0001) and 13 wks (p = 0.0002) determined using the optical fractionator, an unbiased stereology probe. (c) Reduction in PF volume is noted at 13 wks compared to WT mice determined using the Cavalieri probe (p = 0.0007). (d) Photomicrographs of NeuN/Nissl stained coronal sections outlining the PF nucleus in WT and R6/2 mice at 13 wks. Scale bar: 250 μm. The data sets were analyzed using a two-way between subject ANOVA and a Tukey HSD post hoc test: *p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001. For all panels of Fig. 1, 4 week: WT (n = 3), R6/2 (n = 4); 6 week: WT (n = 4), R6/2 (n = 5); 9 week: WT (n = 4), R6/2 (n = 4), 11 week: WT (n = 6), R6/2 (n = 4); 13 week: WT (n = 5), R6/2 (n = 4). Abbreviations: FR = Fasciculus Retroflexus, PF = Parafascicular Nucleus