PD rat models and rotation test

PD rat models were prepared as previous described (Chen et al. 2017). Briefly, male Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized and injected with 16 μg 6-OHDA (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) into the right SN, and right MFB according to the Paxinos and Watson rat brain stereotaxic atlas. 6-OHDA induced lesion was tested by apomorphine (APO)-induced rotation 2 weeks after the injection.

The behavior of treated rats in response to APO (0.5 mg/kg, Sigma, USA) was assessed and only those rats showing 7 or more rotations/min during a 30-min period toward the contralateral side after APO treatment were considered successful PD rat models and used for experiments. The efficacy of transplantation on PD rat behavior was also tested at various time points after MSC transplantation.