Fig. 5.

RSV protects against MPTP-induced neuronal degeneration in vivo. The neurotoxin MPTP was injected into wild-type mice as described in “Methods”. Control animals received an equal volume of vehicle. Substantia nigra and striatum were prepared and analyzed further as indicated. a Treatment schedule employing MPTP and RSV is shown with times of injections. b Immunostaining of coronal sections of SNc from control mice (vehicle) and after treatment with MPTP or MPTP + RSV. Scale bar 0.5 mm. c Histogram showing the number of TH-positive neurons in the SNc as determined by stereological analysis. Values are means ± SD, n = 5–7 per group. **p < 0.01 MPTP versus vehicle and MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. d Histogram showing the number of NeuN-positive neurons in the SNc as determined by stereological analysis. Values are means ± SD, n = 3–4 per group. **p < 0.01 MPTP versus vehicle and MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. e–f Immunoblots show declines in TH and in DAT levels induced after MPTP and their attenuation by RSV. β-actin was used as control. Values are means ± SD, n = 8–10 per group. ***p < 0.001 MPTP versus vehicle or RSV, and MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. **p < 0.01 MPTP versus vehicle or RSV, and MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. g Immunohistochemistry of TH and DAT positive neuron endings in striatum (St) was done as described in “Methods”. Note a partial preservation of dopamine fibers by RSV. h Densitometric analyses of TH and DAT-positive nerve fibers. Values are means ± SD, n = 4. TH, **p < 0.01 MPTP versus vehicle and p < 0.05 MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. DAT, **p < 0.01 MPTP versus vehicle and p < 0.05 MPTP + RSV versus MPTP. Scale bar 1 mm. i Immunoblot showing increased SOD2 levels in SN but not in striatum by RSV. j Quantification of SN data. Values are means ± SD, n = 3. *p < 0.05 for RSV versus C