Fig. 2

Double strand breaks are increased in temporal cortex nuclei of DLB cases. a Example confocal images (63 × objective) from control (Con) and cases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) showing single strand break (XRCC1) and double strand break (γH2AX) associated immuno-fluorescence in neurons (NeuN) and non-neuronal cells. Nuclei are co-stained with DAPI. Quantification of mean b) XRCC1 c) γH2AX fluorescence signal, alongside f) nuclei based cell counts from Con (n = 13 cases) and DLB (n = 12 cases) are presented. Additionally, di-ii) frequency distribution of XRCC1 and ei-ii) γH2AX per nuclei are shown. Each measure output is reported for neuronal (NeuN +) and non-neuronal (NeuN-) populations. gi Western blot images of γH2AX and loading control Histone H3 and gii) quantification of loading adjusted γH2AX signal in Con and DLB cases (n = 14 and 13 respectively; g.ii) are also shown. Data are expressed in scatterplots with mean ± SEM (in b,c,f and g) and as percentage frequency of immunofluorescence intensity per bins of 10 units width (in d + e). Statistical outcome of Mann–Whitney non-parametric tests shown in appropriate plots, * = p < 0.05 and ** = p < 0.01. Scale = 20 µm