Fig. 4.

Neuroprotective efficacy of P7C3 and P7C3A20 for MPP⁺ toxicity to dopaminergic neurons in C. elegans. Worms were treated with 5 mM MPP⁺ for 40 h, with preincubation for 30 min with different concentrations of test compounds or vehicle. VEH animals not exposed to MPP⁺ exhibited normal GFP expression in dopaminergic neurons (solid arrow). By contrast, GFP expression was lost after 40 h of MPP⁺ exposure (open arrow). Both P7C3A20 and P7C3 dose dependently protected dopaminergic neurons from MPP⁺ toxicity, with P7C3A20 exhibiting greater potency and ceiling of efficacy. Twenty worms were analyzed per group, and each group analysis was performed in triplicate. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM.