Figure 8. BH4-dependent mitochondrial function in all regions at E29.
A. In E29 brains, the ratio of attached neurons with functioning mitochondria (Rhodamine + Cholera + cells at 48 h) over total neurons with functioning mitochondria (in supernatant at 24 and 48 h plus attached at 48 h) show the highest number in basal ganglia compared to cortex and thalamus in a BH4 deficient environment (ANOVA p=0.0030; *p=0.0017 basal ganglia vs. cortex, p=0.0072 vs. thalamus, n=9/group, paired t-test). B. Attachment efficiency of functioning mitochondria neurons: With BH4 supplementation, there are significant increases in recovery of the ratio (shown as a % change) in all groups (# basal ganglia p=0.0017, Cortex p=0.0013, thalamus p=0.0045, n=9/group, paired t-test). C. Attachment efficiency of high mitochondria cells: Basal ganglia neurons from E29 rabbit fetal brain had higher ratio of attached cells with high mitochondrial function (JC-1 red>green fluorescent cells at 48 h) to total cells with high mitochondrial function (in supernatant at 24 and 48 h plus attached at 48 h) compared to cortex, without BH4 supplementation (* p=0.0234, n=9/group, paired t-test but ANOVA not significant). D. Attachment efficiency of high mitochondria cells: With BH4 supplementation, there were significant increases in recovery of this ratio in all the groups (# basal ganglia p=0.0314, Cortex p=0.0102, thalamus p=0.0079, n=9/group, paired t-test).