Behavioural Testing
To assess the impact of the intra-nigral AAV α-synuclein infusion combined with intra-striatal FN075 infusion on motor function, the rats were assessed for motor impairments using the Stepping Test of forelimb akinesia (Olsson et al., 1995), the Whisker Test of sensorimotor integration (Schallert et al., 2000) and the Corridor Test of sensorimotor neglect (Fitzsimmons et al., 2006, Dowd et al., 2005). In the Stepping Test, rats were held with two hands restraining both hindlimbs and one forelimb, they were then guided at a steady pace (90 cm in ~5 s) across a table surface. This was performed in both the backhand and forehand directions on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides, counting the number of adjusting steps made by the free forelimb, and data are expressed as the number of contralateral steps taken (mean of both directions). In the Whisker Test, rats were held with two hands restraining both hindlimbs and one forelimb, on the side of the unrestrained limb their whiskers were brushed against the side of a table 10 times. This was performed on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides, where the number of vibrissae-elicited forelimb placings was recorded, and data are expressed as the number of contralateral placings made. In the Corridor Test, pots containing CocoPops® at regular intervals evenly spaced on both sides of a long corridor was set up, rats were placed in the corridor and allowed to freely retrieve the CocoPops®. Once a total of 20 retrievals were made or 5 min elapsed, the trial was deemed complete. The number of retrievals made from both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides was counted, and data are expressed as the % contralateral retrievals made.