Additional file 4: Figure S3. of Telomere shortening leads to an acceleration of synucleinopathy and impaired microglia response in a genetic mouse model

Exploratory behavior and string agility. Exploratory behavior of the mice has been analysed using the Open Field System. Several parameters, e.g. the activity, duration and the totally travelled distance were measured in three different zones of the open field: Border, intermediate and center of the open field. 7 to 10 mice of the indicated genotypes were recorded each for 10 min. (A) Activity in the open field and (B) duration of stay in the three indicated zones. αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- mice did not show a difference in comparison to αSYNtg/tg mice and the two control groups. Although a trend can be seen in duration, αSYNtg/tg and αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- stay even shorter in the intermediate and the center zone and prefer the border zone in comparison to Terc+/+ or G3Terc-/- mice. (C) String agility test shows no difference between the different groups. (D) Activated astrocytes were measured using GFAP immunohistochemistry. The histogram depicts GFAP positive astrocytes of the brainstem (n = 4–6 mice). αSYNtg/tg mice show a significant increase in astrocyte activation (62.35 ± 5.656) in comparison to αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- mice (39 ± 2.383, P = 0.0159). Furthermore, αSYNtg/tg mice with phenotype (85 weeks) show a significant activation (62.35 ± 5.65) if compared with non-phenotypic mice (75 weeks, 33.37 ± 4.086, P = 0.0095). Terc+/+ (14.3 ± 7.6) and G3Terc-/- mice (10.07 ± 7.10) show low activation levels. (PDF 33 kb