Fig. 9

Late loss of nigrostriatal projections in the striatum of c-rel^-/- mice. Representative photomicrographs of TH positive fibers density in the striatum of wt (a-d) and c-rel^-/- mice (e-h) at 5, 7, 12 and 18 months of age. Densitometric analysis of TH positive fibers is shown in (i-l). The results are expressed as percentage of TH positive fibers, considering 100% the values obtained for wt mice. A significant reduction in the density of TH positive fibers of c-rel^-/- mice was detected only at 18 months. n = 3-6 animals per group, ***p<0.001 vs. wt mice, t-test. m Striatum protein extracts derived from wt and c-rel^-/- mice of 4, 12 and 18 months of age have been processed to determine 3-NT protein content. Results are expressed as ng of 3-NT protein amount over μg of total protein extract. 3-NT levels were increased in the striatum of 12-month-old c-rel^-/- mice and further increased at 18 months. n = 6 animals per group, *p<0.05, *** p<0.001 vs. wt mice, two way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test