Additional file 2: Figure S1. of Telomere shortening leads to an acceleration of synucleinopathy and impaired microglia response in a genetic mouse model

Mating scheme for the generation of mouse cohorts. (A) Breeding scheme for generating 3rd generation telomerase knockout and α-synuclein transgenic mice (αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/-) and corresponding control cohorts. Heterozygous α-synuclein (αSYN) mice were crossed with heterozygous telomerase knockout mice (Terc) to generate double transgenic αSYNtg/tg G1Terc-/- and single transgenic αSYNtg/tg, G1Terc-/- and Terc+/+ mice (G1 = first generation of telomerase knockout). These double transgenic αSYNtg/tg G1Terc-/- mice were crossed with each other to produce αSYNtg/tg G2Terc-/- mice and finally αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- mice. (B) Telomere length was measured in neurons of the brainstem using qFISH telomere staining double-stained with Cy5-Neuron N dye. The graph represents telomere length in brainstem in 75 weeks old mice (n = 5 mice per group). Analyzed were αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- in comparison to αSYNtg/tg mice (P = 0.0012) and G3Terc-/- in comparison to Terc+/+ mice (P = 0.0079) as well as αSYNtg/tg G3Terc-/- compared with G3Terc-/- (P = 0.03). (PDF 29 kb)