Figure 2

Preservation of striatal BDNF levels in R6/2:pGFAP-BDNF mice is associated with an improvement of their motor performance over R6/2 mice. Motor coordination and balance were analyzed by performing the rotarod task at 16 (A) and 24 (B) rpm in 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-week-old wt, pGFAP-BDNF, R6/2 and R6/2:pGFAP-BDNF mice. Motor coordination and balance were further assessed by the balance beam test at 7, 10 and 12 weeks of age (C). Ataxia and gait abnormalities were assessed by the footprint test, analyzing front paw length (D) and paw overlap (E) at 7, 10 and 12 weeks of age in wt, pGFAP-BDNF, R6/2 and R6/2:pGFAP-BDNF mice. Values are expressed as mean ± s.e.m. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA at different stages of the disease's progression in the case of the footprint and the balance beam tests because different cohorts of animals were used. In the case of the rotarod task, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed. For clarity, in A and B only statistical comparisons between R6/2 and R6/2:pGFAP-BDNF mice are depicted. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001, as compared to wt mice; $ p < 0.05, $$ p < 0.01 and $$$ p < 0.001, as compared to pGFAP-BDNF mice; and # p < 0.05 and ## p < 0.01, as compared to R6/2 mice (n = 10-12/genotype).