FIGURE 7.

Sodium phenylbutyrate improved cognitive function in aged α-synuclein transgenic mice. The Y39C transgenic mice were divided into two age groups: 6–8 months old (Young Tg, n = 20, A, C) and 10–12 months old (Old Tg, n = 20, B, D). Half of the transgenic mice in each age group (n = 10) received PB (1000 mg/liter, 5.4 mm) in drinking water, while the other mice (n = 10) were treated with water containing sodium chloride in equal molarity (vehicle). After 6 weeks and 12 weeks of drug treatment, all mice were tested for cognitive function using the Morris water maze. A, C, Young Tg mice had no differences in learning ability between PB and vehicle treatments. B, D, PB treatment in Old Tg mice significantly improved learning ability in the last day of water maze testing compared with vehicle-treated transgenic mice at both 6-week and 12-week tests. (*, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01, n = 10.)