Figure 7.

Active caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were expressed in the SN of (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice. (a) Western blot analysis showed that protein expression of cleaved active caspase-9 (MW=37 kDa), active caspase-8 (MW=18 kDa) or active caspase-3 (MW=17 kDa) was significantly upregulated in the SN of a 12-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 mice (line 32). Note that protein level of active caspase-3, caspase-8, or caspase-9 was not altered in the SN of LRRK2 transgenic mice (line 36) at the same age. Each bar shows the mean±S.E. value of six mice. *P<0.01 compared with wild-type mice. Double immunofluorescence staining was performed with anti-TH antiserum and anti-active caspase-9 (b) or anti-active caspase-3 (c) antibody. Confocal microscopy showed that active caspase-9 (b) or caspase-3 (c) was found in TH-positive SN dopaminergic neurons of a 12-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 mouse (line 32). In contrast, active caspase-9 (b) or caspase-3 (c) was not observed in TH-positive SN dopaminergic cell of LRRK2 transgenic mice (line 36) at the age of 12 months. Scale bar is 10 μm