Fig. 2

Dopaminergic degeneration in the SNpc 3 months after injection of PFFs, monomeric αSyn, and 8× r-mTBIs. Quantification of TH+ dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc was performed using imageJ and the counts were normalized to the area of the SNpc indicating a loss of neurons following injection of PFFs. PFF induced loss of neurons was not accelerated by 8× r-mTBIs (A). TH+ neuronal staining of the whole nigra from 8× r-mTBI + monomer, 8× r-mTBI + PFF, and PFF only rat brains indicating ipsilateral neuron loss in the 8× r-mTBI + PFF and in PFF only groups (B₁–B₃). White arrowhead indicates intact ipsilateral nigra (B₁). Arrowhead indicates degenerating ipsilateral nigra (B₂–B₃). High magnification of nigra from 8× r-mTBI + monomer, 8× r-mTBI + PFF, and PFF only rat brains stained for TH, Iba1 and MHCII (C₁–C₁₂). MHCII+ iba1+ amoeboid microglia present in nigra of 8× r-mTBI + PFF rat brains (C₆–C₈). Low MHCII + staining in 8× r-mTBI + monomer (C₂–C₄). Low MHCII staining in PFF only group (C₁₀–C₁₂). White arrowheads indicate ramified microglia colocalizing with low MHCII signal (C₂–C₄). Arrowheads indicate amoeboid microglia colocalizing with strong MHCII signal (C₆–C₈). Arrowheads indicate ramified microglia colocalizing with low MHCII signal (C₁₀–C₁₂)