Figure 6.

l-DOPA accelerates neurodegeneration and body weight loss. Four weeks after DOX withdrawal, CamDAT mice were injected daily with 300 mg/kg l-DOPA plus 100 mg/kg benserazide, and body weight was monitored. A, l-DOPA-treated mice gradually lost more body weight than saline control (41.5% vs 25%, respectively, n = 5 per group, unpaired t test, p < 0.001). Day 0 indicates the first day of l-DOPA treatment. Blank data points indicate the days without treatment. B, l-DOPA accelerated neurodegeneration in striatum assayed by unbiased stereological cell counting (12% more loss of NeuN⁺ neurons in l-DOPA-treated mice, n = 4 per group, unpaired t test, p = 0.03). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.