Figure 1.
Experimental design of the study.
(A) Subacute MPTP mice model. (B) EA stimulation on MPTP mice. Numbers represent days.
Figure 2.
MPTP reduces the number of TH-ir neurons in the SNpc.
(A and F) NS group. (B and G) MPTP group on day 6. (C and H) MPTP group on day 12. (D and I) MPTP group on day 18. (E and J) MPTP group on day 24. (K) Quantification of TH-ir neuronal profiles in the SNpc. Scale bar, 200 µm (A, B, C, D and E) and 50 µm (F, G, H, I and J). n = 3∼4.
Figure 3.
MPTP decreases striatal content of DA and its metabolites and increases the DA turnover.
(A) DA. (B) DOPAC. (C) HVA. (D) DA turnover. *** p<0.001 vs. NS group; #p<0.05, ##p<0.01, ###p<0.001 vs. MPTP group on day 6. n = 6∼7.
Figure 4.
MPTP increases the spontaneous locomotor activity.
(A) Total movements. (B) Total movement time. (C) Total movement distance. (D) Movement velocity. Filled circle with solid line represents the NS group, and hollow circle with dash line represents the MPTP group. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 vs. NS group on the same day. n = 10∼11.
Figure 5.
100 Hz EA stimulation improves the hyperkinesia of MPTP mice.
(A) Total movements. (B) Total movement time. (C) Total movement distance. (D) Movement velocity. Filled circle with solid line represents the NS group, hollow circle with dash line represents the 100 Hz+NS group, filled triangle with solid line represents the 0 Hz+MPTP group, and hollow triangle with dash line represents the 100 Hz+MPTP group. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. NS group on the same day; #p<0.05 vs. 100 Hz+MPTP group on the same day. n = 12∼14.
Figure 6.
Impacts of 100 Hz EA stimulation on striatal DA and its metabolites.
(A) DA. (B) DOPAC. (C) HVA. (D) DA turnover. ***p<0.001 vs. NS group; ###p<0.001 vs. 0 Hz+MPTP group. n = 9∼11.