Expression of iNOS, COX-2 and apoptotic levels in organotypic cultures of ventral mesencephalon.

<p>An important increase in iNOS expression in the organotypic cultures was observed in MPTP group (panels a and a1), whereas TO901317 treatment significantly lowered the expression of iNOS (panels a and a1). Furthermore, an important enhanced expression of COX-2 was observed in the MPTP group (panels b,b1), expression that was significantly decreased by TO901317 treatment (panels b and b1). Values are mean ± SEM (N = 10 animals per group). a1) ** p < 0.01 vs Sham; ## p < 0.01 vs MPTP; b1) *** p < 0.001 vs Sham; ### p < 0.001 vs MPTP. Moreover, the apoptotic marker such as Bax was significantly enhanced in the MPTP group (panels c,c1), expression that was clearly decreased with TO901317 (panels c and c1). In addition, Bcl-2 expression was lowered after MPTP stimulation (panels d,d1); while the treatment with TO901317 significantly restored basal levels of Bcl-2 (panels d and d1). The results obtained confirmed the previous in vivo observed results. Values are mean ± SEM (N = 10 animals per group). c1)*** p < 0.001 vs Sham; ## p < 0.01 vs MPTP; d1) * p < 0.05 vs Sham; # p < 0.05 vs MPTP.