Myelin Basic Protein and Cardiac Sympathetic Neurodegeneration in Nonhuman Primates

Figure 3

Cardiac MBP-immunoreactive (-ir) spot number is significantly decreased following systemic 6-OHDA. Photomicrographs (a–f) of MBP-ir spots (black arrows) in myocardial nerve bundles (outlined in black) in the cardiac base level (a–c) or apex level (d–f) in normal control (a, d), 6-OHDA + placebo-treated (b, e), or 6-OHDA + pioglitazone-treated (c, f) animals. Scale = 25 μm. Bar graphs (g, h) of the median number of MBP-ir spots counted in each level (g) or region (h) in each treatment group. Error bars show the interquartile range. Black points represent individual animal means; see manuscript results text for statistics. MBP, myelin basic protein; pio, pioglitazone; Mid, middle cardiac level; S, septal; A, anterior; L, lateral; I, inferior.