Figure 2.

6-OHDA-mediated, but not MPP ⁺-mediated, neuronal death is attenuated by caspase inhibitor or antioxidant. Primary cultures of mesencephalic DA neurons were treated with 20 μm 6-OHDA for 24 hr or with 3 μm MPP ⁺ for 12 or 48 hr in the presence or absence of 50 μm zVAD-fmk (Z-VAD) or 0.5 mmN-acetylcysteine (NAC). A, The number of TH-positive neurons and the rate of [³H]DA uptake (B) were measured. Values from each treatment were expressed as a percentage over the untreated control (100%). Data represent the mean ± SEM from at least three independent experiments. Significance of difference was determined by ANOVA with post hoc Student's t test (^*p < 0.01).