Subthalamic hGAD65 Gene Therapy and Striatum TH Gene Transfer in a Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model

Table 1

Quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the SNc and VTA (𝑛=6).

Fibroblasts (TH)

rAAV2-hGAD65

Combination

Fibroblasts

rAAV2 vector

PBS

Number

Percent of control

Number

Percent of control

Number

Percent of control

Number

Percent of control

Number

Percent of control

Number

Percent of control

4 W

1169.3±99.3

9.52±0.81%

1198.5±109.7

9.76±0.89%

1127.5±0.54

9.18±0.81%

1201.3±96.4

9.68±0.94%

1251.4±91.3

9.79±2.01%

1129.4±89.3

9.05±1.92%

8 W

966.0±121.1

8.24±1.03%

988.3±157.8

8.43±1.35%

978.8±0.41

8.35±1.01%

898.5±102.4

8.17±1.20%

1013.2±93.2

8.74±1.36%

928.2±112.4

8.23±1.67%

16 W

587.5±59.6

4.78±0.71%

551.5±53.5

4.49±0.43%

650.8±0.41

5.31±0.77%

602.3±47.9

5.24±0.84%

579.2±65.3

4.86±0.93%

542.4±82.2

4.37±0.89%

The number of TH-positive neurons was in a decreasing tendency in all groups from 4 weeks to 16 weeks after treatment. There was no significant difference of number of TH-positive neurons compared to each other at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment, respectively. Fibroblasts (TH), fibroblasts transferred by rAd-TH; rAAV2-hGAD65, recombinant AAV2 particles, containing human glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 gene; combination, rAAV2-hGAD65 + fibroblasts (TH), fibroblasts, primary cultured fibroblasts, rAAV2 vector, recombinant AAV2 particles, PBS, pH = 7.2, 0.1 M.