CP-Parkin stimulates dopamine expression in MPTP-lesioned mice.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Experimental design. 8-week-old C57BL/6 female mice received three doses of MPTP on days 1 and 2 and were injected IP on days 3 through 7 with diluent alone, or with 10 mg/kg of parkin proteins (IP) with (HPM₁₃ and PM₁₀) or without (HP) a MTD sequence. Urine and brain dopamine levels, gross motor function and brain lesions (TH immunostaining) were analyzed on subsequent days as indicated. (<b>B</b>) Dopamine levels in the urine of MPTP-lesioned mice. Urine dopamine levels in MPTP-lesioned mice were measured by ELISA 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hrs after HP and HPM₁₃ protein treatment. Values from 5 mice are presented as means ± S.D. Experimental differences between groups were assessed by a Student’s two-paired <i>t</i>-test (*<i>p</i><0.005). (<b>C</b>) Striatal dopamine levels in MPTP-lesioned mice. Dopamine levels in striatal biopsies were determined by ELISA in lesioned mice without protein treatment or after daily treatments with PM₁₀ as shown in panel A. Dopamine levels in groups of 5 mice are presented as means ± S.D. Experimental differences between groups were assessed by a Student’s two-paired <i>t</i>-test (*<i>p</i><0.01 and **<i>p</i><0.05).