The experimental model to induce HD was previously described [10 (link)21 (link)]. Briefly, 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP; Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) was dissolved in saline (25 mg/mL) and passed through a 0.2-µm filter. We followed the 3NP injection protocol described by Huang et al. [21 (link)], with 3NP injected intraperitoneally twice daily for two days at 12-h intervals (10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) at a dose of 60 mg/kg for the first two injections and 80 mg/kg for the second two injections.