Fig. 4

Caspase-1 deficiency attenuates α-Syn-induced microglial activation in mouse SNc. a NeuN immunostaining exhibits a decrease of total neurons in the SNc of MPTP/p mice. Stereological counts reveal that MPTP treatment for 5-week results in a loss of TH⁺ DA neurons in SNc (b) and a dramatic increase of α-Syn-ir cells accumulation (c). d Concomitantly, MPTP induces the overactivation of microglia which was characterized by the increased Iba-1-ir cells in SNc. Scale bar: 150 μm, data are presented as the mean ± S.E.M, n = 5. e IBA-1⁺ microglial activation and f IBA-1 expressions in WT, A53T alone transgenic mice and A53T^tg/tg;Caspase-1^-/- double transgenic mice. Scale bar: 40 μm, data are presented as the mean ± S.E.M, n = 4–6. * p < 0.05 vs. saline group