Figure. 1.

Mirtazapine administration ameliorates dopaminergic neurodegeneration via 5-HT1A receptor in parkinsonian mice. (a) Representative photomicrographs of TH immunohistochemistry in the SNpc of parkinsonian mice after administration of mirtazapine (5 or 16 mg/kg). Scale bar = 200 µm. (b) High magnification images of (a). Scale bar = 100 μm. (c) Changes in the number of TH-positive neurons after mirtazapine administration. (d) Representative photomicrographs of TH immunostaining in the SNpc of mirtazapine (16 mg/kg) and WAY100635 (WAY; 0.5 mg/kg) co-administered parkinsonian mice. Scale bar = 200 µm. (e) High magnification images of (d). Scale bar = 100 μm. (f) Quantification of the number of TH-positive cells. Data are presented as means ± SEM (n = 5–6 slices/group). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 versus control side of vehicle-treated group. ^## p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 between the two indicated groups.