FN075 did not precipitate nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in the
AAV-α-synuclein model
A central aspect of Parkinson’s disease neuropathology is the
degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons. Therefore, we
endeavoured to ascertain whether rats exhibiting pathological
α-synuclein expression displayed neurodegeneration. Despite a
significant increase in pathological pS129 and fibrillar α-synuclein in
the substantia nigra within groups administered AAV-α-synuclein, there
was no explicit loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Neither,
tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive cell counts in the substantial nigra
nor terminals in the striatum were affected AAV-α-synuclein or FN075,
alone or in combination (Fig. 5; Substantia nigra: Group,F(3,35) =1.25, p > 0.05;
Striatum: Group, F(3,36) =0.76, p> 0.05).