MA suppresses BMP7 mRNA levels in mouse SN. The effect of MA on BMP-7 gene regulation was directly measured by quantitative RT-PCR. mRNA levels for BMP7, PGK1 and HPRT were measured by qRT-PCR 1 day after injection of either MA or saline in CD1 mice. For each sample, mRNA levels for the specific gene were normalized to the housekeeping gene HPRT mRNA level. The housekeeping gene PGK1 mRNA level did not differ between saline and MA groups (A). Nigral BMP7 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in MA injected mice (n=9) compared with the levels in the saline injected group (n=9) (B, C; * P<0.05, Student’s t-test). Downregulation of BMP7 mRNA by MA was indirectly measured by β-gal assays in BMP7 +/− mice (D). BMP7 +/− mice that received MA injection have significantly decreased striatal β-gal activity (76% of heterozygous+saline group), compared with BMP7 +/− mice receiving saline. (* P<0.05, Student’s t-test).