7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Protects Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Neurons from Rotenone-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rodents

Figure 3

7,8-DHF activates TrkB signaling and reduces the abnormal phosphorylation of MAPK, α-synuclein, and tau. TrkB phosphorylation in SNpc regions was significantly elevated in the 7,8-DHF group compared to the rotenone (), suggesting 7,8-DHF activated TrkB markedly (a, b). Scale bar = 50 μm, , compared to the two indicated groups, . p-TrkB and p-Akt in the 7,8-DHF group were significantly higher than other two groups, and there was no significant difference in the expression of BDNF in the SN between rotenone and 7,8-DHF groups (c, e). , compared to other two groups, . The phosphorylated MAPK (p-MAPK) in the rotenone group was significantly increased compared to the control group, and treatment with 7,8-DHF reduced p-MAPK (c, d). The expressions of α-synuclein and p-tau (S396) in the rotenone group were significantly higher compared to the control group, and 7,8-DHF treatment could reduce the levels of total α-synuclein, phospho-α-synuclein (Ser 129), and p-tau (S396) (f–h), (, , compared to the two indicated groups, ). Data were presented as mean ± SEM.