Figure 3.

Reduced BDNF protein in MHB leads to motor deficits and reduced striatal TH in Wnt-BDNF^KO mice. A, BDNF protein was quantified by ELISA for MHB and expressed as nanograms of BDNF protein per gram of wet tissue. These extracts were obtained from P7 and P9 mice and pooled to increase the n (for P7/P9, n = 5 for Wnt-BDNF^KO and wild-type; n = 4 for heterozygous; ^**p < 0.01; ^***p < 0.001; one-way ANOVA with a Newman-Keuls post hoc test). B, Performance of 4- to 5-week-old mice on an accelerating rotarod. Each mouse had three trials each day, which were averaged for the day (Wnt-BDNF^KO, n = 7; heterozygous, n = 16; wild type, n = 6; ^**p < 0.01 heterozygous vs wild type for day 1 only; ^***p < 0.001 Wnt-BDNF^KO vs heterozygous and wild type all 3 d). C, Wnt-BDNF^KO, heterozygous, and wild-type mice at 1, 2, and 4 months of age were suspended by their tails for 1 min. Clasping was defined as the balling up of one or both of the hindlimb paws, accompanied by pulling them into the body and movement of the limbs toward the midline. Four-month-old wild-type, heterozygous, and Wnt-BDNF^KO mice undergoing tail suspension are shown. D, Western blot analysis of TH levels in total striatal protein from P35 Wnt-BDNF^KO and control mice (n = 4 for Wnt-BDNF^KO and wild type; n = 3 for heterozygous; ^*p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA with a Newman-Keuls post hoc test). White bar, Wnt-BDNF^KO; gray bar, heterozygous; black bar, wild type.