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. 2007 Dec 3;118(1):149–160. doi: 10.1172/JCI32273

Figure 6. Improved differentiation of Nurr1+ DA precursors and expression of midbrain-specific markers by VMN-Wnt5a cells in vivo.

Figure 6

(A) Number of TH+ and Nurr1+ cells within the grafts and (B) ratio of TH+ to Nurr1+ cells. Note there is no significant difference between TH+ and Nurr1+ cell number in VMN-Wnt5a grafts, suggesting that almost all precursor cells (i.e., 88%) adopted a DA fate (see D), unlike in VMN grafts alone, where numerous Nurr1+TH– cells were observed (C, arrows). Data are mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, Student’s t test. (E) Pitx3/TH and (F) GIRK2/TH staining within the grafts confirmed midbrain phenotype. (G–K) Expression profile of midbrain DA neuron genes involved in development and function, as assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Both early and late genes in DA development were upregulated in VMN-Wnt5a grafts. Data are mean ± SD (n = 3–4 per group). *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001, ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test. Scale bar: 50 μm.