6-hydroxydopamine lesioning differentially affects alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens, striatum and substantia nigra of adult rats
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS, vol.322, no.1, pp.33-36, 2002 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 322 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2002
- Doi Number: 10.1016/s0304-3940(02)00083-6
- Journal Name: NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.33-36
- Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The effect of a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion and/or repeated administration of levodopa (L-DOPA) to normal and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats on a-synuclein mRNA expression was investigated by in situ hybridization histochemistry. A 6-OHDA lesion of the nigro-striatal pathway alone, confirmed by the loss of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression, markedly decreased alpha-synuclein mRNA in the lesioned substantia nigra (SN). In contrast, the levels of alpha-synuclein mRNA in the denervated striatum and nucleus accumbens were not altered. Chronic administration Of L-DOPA to normal or 6-OHDA-lesioned rats had no effect on alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in the SN, striatum or nucleus accumbens. These data confirm that alpha-synuclein is localized in the nigro-striatal tract but that its gene expression is not regulated by dopamine. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.