Figure 1.

Conventional knockout of Calhm2 improves locomotor performance, reduces DA neuronal loss and microglia numbers. (A) Calhm2 WT and Calhm2 KO mice were treated with saline or MPTP (four intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg, 2 h intervals) after three days of rotarod training. Behavioral tests were performed on the third and seventh day after MPTP injection and striatal tissue was collected on the seventh day. (B and C) Latency of mice on the rotating rod. Data are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (ANOVA, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n ≥ 10) (D-G) Immunoblotting and statistical analysis of Striatal tissue lysates using antibodies against Iba1, GFAP, and TH after MPTP treatment (n = 3). (H) Images of immunohistochemically stained sections of mouse striatum treated with anti-TH antibody. (I) Images of immunohistochemically stained sections of TH in the SNc of mice. (J) Statistical analysis of the number of TH-positive neurons in the SNc of mice. Data are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4. (K) Co-localization of TH (immunostaining) with Iba1 (immunostaining) and GFAP (immunostaining) positive cells in Calhm2 WT and Calhm2 KO mice. (L, M) Statistical analysis of the number of microglia as well as astrocytes. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, (n = 6 slices for 3 mice per group).