The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on neurodegeneration-related molecules in the k18hACE2 mice ventral tegmental area.

Immunohistochemical staining analysis of (A) P-Tau (S404) in the VTA of brain sections from k18hACE2 mice uninfected or infected with 5 × 10⁴ PFU 7 days after administration. Bar is 100 μm. Western blot analysis of (B) P-Tau (S404), (B) P-GSK-3β, and (C) P-AKT tissue lysates of the VTA of the brain in k18hACE2 mice uninfected or infected with 5 × 10⁴ PFU 7 Days after administration. The intensity of the bands corresponding to P-Tau (S404), P-GSK-3β, and P-AKT was normalized to that of the corresponding total protein bands. The intensity of the bands corresponding to P-Tau (S404) was normalized to that of β-Actin. The data are representative of 6 mice per group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.