Figure 3.

NBP decreases the iron content in the substantia nigra and serum in the rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease.

(A)Perls’ iron staining indicated that rotenone treatment led to an increase in iron deposition in the substantia nigra, while NBP decreased the effects of rotenone on iron deposition in the substantia nigra. Images in the second row are magnifications of the boxed areas in the first row. Scale bars: 200 μm (top) and 50 μm (below). (B) Quantitative results of the number of iron-positive neurons. (C) An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer was used to detect iron content in the serum of rotenone-treated rats with or without NBP treatment. All data are shown as the mean ± SEM (n = 5–6 rats per group). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test). NBP: DL-3-n-butylphthalide.