Since transcriptional downregulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission was detected in the telencephalon at 7 dpi of LACV infection (Fig 2A), we examined the integrity of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (midbrain, a rostral part of the brainstem) (Fig 2F) and their dopaminergic projections to the basal ganglia (Fig 2E) by immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; a protein marker of dopaminergic neurons and projections). Here, TH is linked to infection.