Fig. 5

Partial recovery of striatal DA levels at week 2 after transfection with the BDNF-flag gene into DA neurons using NTS-polyplex. DA levels were measured using HPLC with electrochemical detection in the striatum (a) and in the substantia nigra (b) at three weeks after unilateral microinjection of 6-OHDA in one striatum (experimental side), and at two weeks after applying one of the following treatments in the ipsilateral substantia nigra: without transfection (NT), Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium injection (DMEM), phDAT-EGFP (GFP), or phDAT-BDNF-flag (BDNF) transfection. The SHAM lesion group was injected in the striatum only with PBS (6-OHDA vehicle). The control side refers to the intact tissues (striatum or substantia nigra) contralateral to the side with the lesion and transfection. The experimental side refers to tissues ipsilateral to the lesion and transfection. Values are expressed as the mean ± SE; n = 4 animals per group. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 when compared with the values caused by a sham lesion. † P < 0.05 when compared with the values of the untransfected side (NT). One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test