Fig. 3

tPA-KO mice are protected from DA-neuron degeneration and behavioral deficits after rAAV2-hα-SYN injection. (A) Coronal sections of the SN showing tPA staining and (B) quantification of tPA fluorescence intensity in the SN 4 weeks after rAAV2-hα-SYN or rAAV2-control injection in WT mice (n = 8–9). (C) Representative images of the SN showing DA-neuron degeneration in the injected SN (TH, white), and (D) quantification of TH⁺ neurons in coronal sections of the SN 4 weeks after rAAV2-hα-SYN or rAAV2-control injection in WT and tPA-KO mice. (E) Quantification of sensorimotor bias in a corridor task 4 weeks after rAAV2-hα-SYN or rAAV2-control injection in WT and tPA-KO mice. White dashed lines represent the SNpc (n = 14–20). These experiments were conducted using 9- to 11-week-old WT and tPA KO mice. Data are shown as mean ± SEM, N.S = not significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001. (B) 2-tailed t-test, (D, E) 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. Scale bar = 500 μm