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. 2023 Nov 25;147(2):444–457. doi: 10.1093/brain/awad388

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of tau aggregates in substantia nigra and putamen. Photomicrographs of the mid-substantia nigra (left two columns) and putamen (right two columns) from no motor deficit (NMD; A–D), minimal motor deficits (MMD; E–H), minimal motor deficits with nigral Lewy body (MMD-LB; I–L) and Parkinson’s disease (PD; M–P) show AT8-immunoreactive (AT8-ir) patterns. AT8 immunoreactivity was not detected in NMD group (A–D). In contrast, numerous AT8-ir neurons were distributed throughout substantia nigra (E and I) and displayed dark somata with abundant processes in subjects with MMD (arrows; F) and MMD-LB (arrows; J). AT8-ir intensities in putamen were higher in MMD (G) and MMD-LB (K) and displayed punctuated dots (arrowheads; H and L) and the same expanded fibre (arrow; H and L). The AT8-ir aggregates with limited processes (arrow; N) in substantia nigra (M) and relative less AT8-ir punctuated dots (arrowhead; O and P) in putamen were observed in PD. Scale bar in P = 20 µm in D, H, L, 100 µm in B, C, F, G, J, K, N and O, 500 µm in A, E, I and M. (Q) Stereological analyses revealed that the density of AT8-ir aggregates in substantia nigra and (R) the density of AT8-ir dots and threads in putamen were significant higher in MMD, MMD-LB and PD relative to NMD group. **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 compared with NMD.