Figure 3.
Effects of valproate (VPA) treatment on substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neuronal survival following 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment. A) Photomicrographs of tyrosine hydroxlase (TH) staining in the SNc (scale bar = 2mm) B) Stereological estimates confirmed a loss of TH immunopositive (TH+) cells in the SNc following MPTP administration. The MPTP-induced decrease in TH+ cells was prevented by VPA administration. C) Stereological estimates confirmed a loss of neurons (Nissl+ cells) in the SNc as a result of the MPTP exposure. Mice receiving VPA and MPTP show a smaller amount of cell loss than animals that received MPTP without VPA. *: p< 0.05, **p< 0.01, ***: p< 0.001.
