Fig 2: The effect of prenatal exposure to VPA on the expression of the t-SNARE proteins: SNAP25 and Stx1. The gene expression of Snap25, Stx1a, and Stx1b in the hippocampus (A) and cerebral cortex (C) of the control and VPA-exposed rats was measured via quantitative RT-PCR and calculated by the ??Ct method with Actb (ß-actin) as a reference gene. Data represent the mean values ± SEM from n = (4–6) independent experiments in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The immunoreactivity of the t-SNARE proteins in the control and the VPA-exposed rats was monitored using a Western blot analysis. Representative pictures and a densitometric analysis of SNAP25 and syntaxin 1 (Stx1) in the hippocampus (B) and cerebral cortex (D) are presented. The results were normalized to GAPDH levels. The data represent the mean values ± SEM from n = 5 independent experiments in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. ** p < 0.01, vs. control.

Fig 3: Neuronal repair is induced in the hippocampus of 5XFAD mice ICV-injected with Th1-BDNF cells.5XFAD mice (11–12 months old) were ICV-injected with Th1-GFP cells, Th1-BDNF cells, or PBS (n = 6–7 mice per group). As an additional baseline control experiment, 5XFAD mice and littermate WT controls were injected with PBS (n = 6–7 mice per group). The mice were killed 10 d following the injection and their brains were excised and analyzed with WB. (A) WB analysis of PSD95, synaptophysin (Syn), SNAP25, VAMP25, and NeuN in whole hippocampal homogenates from WT and 5XFAD mice ICV-injected with PBS. Tubulin was used as an internal control. Bar graphs indicate the mean (± SEM) levels of each protein, normalized to tubulin levels in each lysate. (B) WB analysis of the above-mentioned proteins in whole hippocampal homogenates from 5XFAD mice ICV-injected with Th1-GFP cells, Th1-BDNF cells, or PBS. Actin was used as an internal control. Bar graphs indicate the mean (± SEM) levels of PSD95 (p = .2852), synaptophysin (Syn) (p = .124), SNAP25 (p = .0939), VAMP25 and NeuN, normalized to actin levels for each lysate. *p < .05 (one-way ANOVA).