Figure. 4.

Mirtazapine requires astrocytes to exert 5-HT1A receptor-mediated dopaminergic neuroprotection. (a) Changes in the number of TH-positive cells in enriched neuronal cultures after treatment with mirtazapine (10 µM) followed by exposure to 6-OHDA (10–50 µM). (b) Changes in the number of TH-positive cells in mesencephalic neuron and striatal astrocyte cocultures after treatment with mirtazapine (10 µM) followed by exposure to 6-OHDA (50–100 µM). (c) Changes in the number of TH-positive cells in neuron and astrocyte cocultures after treatment with mirtazapine (10 µM) and the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (10 nM) followed by exposure to 6-OHDA (100 µM). Data are presented as means ± SEM (n = 3–6) and expressed as a percentage of the control group. **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 vs. each control group. ^#p < 0.05 and ^###p < 0.001 between the two indicated groups.