6-hydroxydopamine lesioning differentially affects alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens, striatum and substantia nigra of adult rats

Zeng B., Dass B., Owen A., Rose S., Cannizzaro C., Tel B. C., ...More

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS, vol.322, no.1, pp.33-36, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • 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.