Nicotine prevents striatal dopamine loss produced by 6-hydroxydopamine lesion in the substantia nigra

While the work of several groups has shown the neuroprotective effects of nicotine in vitro, evidences for the same effects in vivo are controversial, mainly regarding neuroprotection in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. In this context, we investigated the capability of various systemic administration schedules of nicotine to prevent the loss of striatal dopamine levels produced by partial or extensive 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of rat substantia nigra (SN). Eight days after 6- and 10-microg injections of 6-OHDA in the SN there was a significant decrease of dopamine concentrations in the corpus striatum (CS) and a concomitant increase in dopamine turnover. While 10 microg 6-OHDA produced an almost complete depletion of dopamine in the SN, 6 microg decreased dopamine levels by 50%. Subcutaneous nicotine (1 mg/kg) administered 4 h before and 20, 44 and 68 h after 6 microg 6-OHDA, prevented significantly the striatal dopamine loss. Administered only 18 or 4 h before or only 20, 44 and 68 h after, nicotine failed to counteract the loss of dopamine or the increase in dopamine turnover observed in the CS. Nicotine also failed to prevent significantly the decrease of striatal dopamine levels produced by the 10-microg 6-OHDA intranigral dose. Chlorisondamine, a long-lasting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, reverted significantly the nicotinic protective effects on dopamine concentrations. These results are showing that putative neuroprotective effects of nicotine in vivo depend on an acute intermittent administration schedule and on the extent of the brain lesion.     

Modulation of dopamine D1-mediated turning behavior and striatal c-fos expression by the substantia nigra

In order to study the possible contribution of the substantia nigra (SN) in the positive interaction between dopamine D₁ receptor agonists and glutamate antagonists in unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats, the effect of the D₁ agonist, SKF 38393, was studied in combination with intranigral infusions of glutamate antagonists of the NMDA (MK 801, CPP) or AMPA (NBQX) type of receptor. Local infusion into the SN of the 6-OHDA lesioned side of MK 801, CPP or NBQX at doses inducing no or minimal behavioral effects significantly increased the turning behavior and the expression of c-fos induced, in the lesioned caudate-putamen (CPu), by a parenteral administration of SKF 38393. The same result was obtained after intra-SN infusion of the GABA agonist, muscimol. High doses of MK 801, CPP or muscimol infused into the SN produced intense contralateral turning per se and induced a sparse c-fos expression in the lesioned CPu which was antagonized by parenteral administration of MK 801. The results indicate that a depression of SN pars reticulata efferent neurons potentiates D₁-mediated responses and suggest that this area may play a role in the positive interaction between glutamate antagonists and D₁ receptor agonists. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Apomorphine-induced alterations in striatal and substantia nigra pars reticulata glutamate following unilateral loss of striatal dopamine

We have reported time-dependent changes in extracellular glutamate within the striatum at 1 and 3 months following a unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway using the neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) (Meshul, C.K., Emre, N., Nakamura, C.M., Allen, C., Donohue, M.K., Buckman, J.F., 1999. Time-dependent changes in striatal glutamate synapses following a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. Neurosci. 88, 1-16.). The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of such a lesion on glutamate within the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SN-PR) and the effect of subchronic administration of the dopamine D-1/D-2 agonist, apomorphine, on extracellular glutamate within both the striatum and the SN-PR using in vivo microdialysis. One month after the lesion, there is an increase in extracellular glutamate within the striatum and apomorphine treatment leads to a further increase. Within the SN-PR, a loss of striatal dopamine leads to a decrease in extracellular glutamate, while apomorphine treatment leads to a further decrease in nigral glutamate. Three months after a 6-OHDA lesion, there is a decrease in extracellular striatal glutamate, with apomorphine administration leading to essentially no further change in glutamate. The loss of striatal dopamine increased extracellular glutamate within the SN-PR while apomorphine administration resulted in a decrease in extracellular glutamate back to the value observed in the control group. The data suggests that the increase in striatal glutamate 1 month following a 6-OHDA lesion alone or following subchronic apomorphine is consistent with the hypothesis that a decrease in glutamate within the SN-PR leads to activation of the thalamo-cortico-striatal pathway. The decrease in striatal glutamate 3 months after a nigrostriatal lesion is also consistent with the observed increase in extracellular glutamate within the SN-PR, thus leading to a decrease in output of the thalamo-cortico-striatal pathway.     

胚胎黑质移植对帕金森病鼠纹状体中多巴胺受体敏感性的影响

大鼠纹状体中多巴胺受体介导的C－fos基因的表达与多巴胺D1受体的超敏现象有关。本实验在鼠胚胎黑质细胞植入帕金森病大鼠模型纹状体后第12周,用免疫组化法检测阿朴吗啡诱发的C－fos蛋白,同时取相邻切片进行酷氨酸羟化酶检测,结果经图像分析发现胚胎黑质移植,能显著减少移植侧纹状体中C－fos的表达量,说明胚胎黑质移植能够纠正多巴胶受体的超敏现象。除此之外,还发现C－fos减少的区域明显超过相邻切片酷氨酸羟化酶免疫阳性区域,表明细胞移植对超敏的多巴胺受体的影响范围大大超过了其诱发宿主残存多巴胺神经元再生的范围。     

In vivo detection of immunoreactive neurokinin A release within rat substantia nigra and its dependency on a dopaminergic input

In the striatum, the tachykinin peptide neurokinin A (NKA) is thought to coexist with substance P in the γ-aminobutyric acid-containing spiny neurones which project to the substantia nigra. We have used in vivo antibody-coated microprobes to directly monitor the release of NKA-like immunoreactivity (NKA-LI) within substantia nigra during various pharmacological manipulations. The data clearly illustrates a basal or resting extracellular presence of NKA-LI restricted to substantia nigra reticulata which was found to be largely dependent on a dopaminergic input. Acute administration of haloperidol (0.1–0.2 mg/kg i.p.) considerably reduced this basal NKA-LI whereas depot administration (14 mg/kg i.m. released over 2 weeks) produced a less substantial reduction. Lesion of nigro-striatal dopamine neurones with the neurotoxic agent 6-hydroxydopamine produced significant reductions in the nigral NKA-LI detected. However, d-amphetamine administration (4 mg/kg i.p.) did not alter the pattern of NKA-LI release for up to 4 h posttreatment. These results indicate that changes in peptide mRNA levels do not necessarily reflect changes in peptide release and suggest that NKA may be the more physiologically relevant tachykinin within the substantia nigra of the rat.     

Facilitatory modulation of mesolimbic dopamine neuronal activity by a μ-opioid agonist and nicotine as examined with in vivo microdialysis

Administration of either Tyr-d-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Gly(ol) (DAGO), a μ-opioid agonist, or nicotine into the VTA (A10) caused an increase in both dopamine (DA) and its metabolite levels in both the A10 region and DA nerve terminals in the nucleus accumbens of rats when assessed with dual probe brain dialysis. These findings show that DAGO and nicotine increase both axonal- and somatodendritic-DA release, as well as metabolic activity in mesolimbic DA neurons, possibly by inducing an increase in neuronal impulse flow.     

Long-term depression in striatal dopamine release monitored by in vivo voltammetry in free moving rats

It was proposed to monitor in free moving rats, by in vivo voltammetry, the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of drugs known to act on the synthesis of dopamine (DA), using an original multifiber carbon electrode which enables without-discontinuity long-term recordings in extracellular DA release. Results show that i.c.v. administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, gamma-butyrolactone, and apomorphine induced long-term depression in striatal DA release, over periods of time of more than 24 h. These results are in agreement with the dopaminergic hypothesis; and we conclude that i.c.v. administration of drugs and the use of the multifiber carbon electrode constitutes a valuable tool to monitor DA metabolism in chronically implanted animals.     

Neurons from substantia nigra increase the efficacy and potency of second messenger arising from striatal astroglia dopamine receptor

Dopamine (D1) receptors were demonstrated to be present on astroglial cells from striatum in primary culture. In a cocultivation system, the astrocytes were influenced by neurons from one of their natural projection areas (substantia nigra) to increase the efficacy and potency of second messenger (cyclic AMP) from the dopamine receptor. This provides evidence for a heterogeneity among astroglia from the various brain regions with respect to the expression of receptors.     

Lesion of the substantia nigra pars compacta downregulates striatal glutamate receptor subunit mRNA expression

This is a study of the effect of the unilateral administration of dopamine (DA) in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (SN) of the rat on striatal glutamate receptor subunit (GluR1, GluR2 and NMDAR1) gene expression determined by in situ hybridization. The location of the nigral lesion was determined by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry and its extent by the striatal DA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) concentrations. The DA-induced lesions produce significant bilateral reductions in the expression of GluR1 and NMDAR1 subunit mRNA in the medio-lateral striatum, whereas the expression of striatal GluR2 receptors was not changed. The reduction in GluR1 and NMDAR1 subunit mRNA may be the consequence of glutamatergic hyperactivity developed in the presence of a damaged nigro-striatal system and these may be associated with the genesis of some neurodegenerative diseases.     

New striatal neurons form projections to substantia nigra in adult rat brain after stroke

Previous studies have demonstrated that newborn striatal neurons can functionally integrate with local neural networks in adult rat brain after injury. In the present study, we determined whether these newly generated striatal neurons can develop projections to the substantia nigra, a target of striatal projection neurons. We used 5′-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and a retroviral vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) combined with multiple immunostaining labels of newborn striatal neurons, and nigral microinjection of fluorogold (FG) to trace the striatonigral projection in adult rat brain at different weeks following a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found that FG positive (FG⁺) cells could be detected in newly generated neurons (BrdU⁺-NeuN⁺ and GFP⁺-NeuN⁺) in ipsilateral striatum clearly at 12, but not 2 weeks after MCAO. The data suggest that ischemia-induced newborn striatal projection neurons could form long axons that targeted the substantia nigra (striatonigral projection pathway) and that have intact axonal transport from the nerve terminal to cell body. These new striatal neurons express glutamate NR2 and dopamine D2L receptors, which form the molecular basis for responding to the inputs from cortical glutamatergic and nigral dopaminergic projection neurons. Our data provide the first morphological evidence that newborn neurons in the striatum, a non-neurogenic region, can establish new striatonigral neural circuits, important pathways for the maintenance of motor function. These results help us to understand endogenous cellular mechanisms of brain repair, and suggest that increasing adult neurogenesis could be a practical strategy for enhancing the efficacy of rehabilitative therapy in stroke patients.     

Simultaneous recording of substantia nigra neurons and voltammetric release of dopamine in the caudate of behaving cats

Simultaneous electrophysiological recordings of single dopamine-containing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra and the voltammetric release of dopamine in the caudate were made in the behaving cat. Unit activity showed no significant changes during sleep and small changes during active waking, while the release of dopamine in post-synaptic target regions of the caudate nucleus decreased by approximately 35% during sleep and increased approximately 50% during movement. These data demonstrate that recording the electrophysiological activity of single dopamine-containing neurons alone does not accurately reflect the functional state of the central dopamine system. The present study is the first report on the simultaneous measurement of the post-synaptic release of a neurotransmitter and the electrophysiological recording of neurons identified to contain that transmitter substance.     

Acute monoaminergic depletion in the rat potentiates the excitatory effect of the subthalamic nucleus in the substantia nigra pars reticulata but not in the pallidal complex

Summary Recent neurochemical evidence suggests that chemical or electrial stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STH) increases dopamine release in the substantia nigra (SN) with a subsequent decrease in the striatum. In a previous paper, we reported that bicuculline-induced activation of the STH increases neuronal activity in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) and in the pallidal complex. In order to investigate the role played by the dopaminergic system in the observed activation, the neuronal responses of subthalamic nucleus target structures were studied in amine depleted rats following subthalamic stimulation. Amine depletion was accomplished by pretreating the rats with reserpine (2 mg/kg; S.C.) and with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (-mpt; 50 mg/kg; I.P.).Following this treatment, dopamine levels were reduced by 94% in the striatum as measured by HPLC. Amine depletion significantly increased the spontaneous activity of subthalamic cells by 53%. In the SNpr, no significant changes in the spontaneous neuronal activity were observed, but the excitatory responses to bicuculline-induced stimulation of the STH were potentiated as compared to non-treated animals. In the pallidial complex (GP-EP), no potentiation was found. The data suggest that the spontaneous pattern of discharge of the STH is probably under monoaminergic control. They also suggest a reciprocal interaction between dopamine and glutamatergic afferent terminals from the STH within the SNpr, but not in the pallidal complex.     

Motor activity-induced dopamine release in the substantia nigra is regulated by muscarinic receptors

Nigro-striatal neurons release dopamine not only from their axon terminals in the striatum, but also from somata and dendrites in the substantia nigra. Somatodendritic dopamine release in the substantia nigra can facilitate motor function by mechanisms that may act independently of axon terminal dopamine release in the striatum. The dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra receive a cholinergic input from the pedunculopontine nucleus. Despite recent efforts to introduce this nucleus as a potential target for deep brain stimulation to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease; and the well-known antiparkinsonian effects of anticholinergic drugs; the cholinergic influence on somatodendritic dopamine release is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible regulation of locomotor-induced dopamine release in the substantia nigra by endogenous acetylcholine release. In intact and 6-OHDA hemi-lesioned animals alike, the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine, when perfused in the substantia nigra, amplified the locomotor-induced somatodendritic dopamine release to approximately 200% of baseline, compared to 120-130% of baseline in vehicle-treated animals. A functional importance of nigral muscarinic receptor activation was demonstrated in hemi-lesioned animals, where motor performance was significantly improved by scopolamine to 82% of pre-lesion performance, as compared to 56% in vehicle-treated controls. The results indicate that muscarinic activity in the substantia nigra is of functional importance in an animal Parkinson's disease model, and strengthen the notion that nigral dopaminergic regulation of motor activity/performance is independent of striatal dopamine release.     

D2 dopamine receptor activation inhibits basal and forskolin-evoked acetylcholine release from dissociated striatal cholinergic interneurons

We tested whether D2 ligands inhibit basal and forskolin-stimulated [³H]ACh release from dissociated striata, as opposed to striatal slices. Quinpirole inhibited both basal (40% maximal inhibition; IC₅₀ ≈ 50 nM) and 10 μM forskolin-stimulated release (80% inhibition; IC₅₀≈25nM quinpirole) and both actions were blocked by a D2 antagonist. Vesamicol prevented the quinpirole and forskolin actions. The ability of D2 agonists to inhibit basal and cyclase-stimulated acetylcholine release emanating from vesamicol-sensitive vesicles appears to be tonically suppressed by inhibitory elements within striatal circuitry.     

NMDA regulation of dopamine release from proximal and distal dendrites in the cat substantia nigra

The NMDA regulation of the dendritic release of [³H]dopamine ([³H]DA) synthesized from [³H]tyrosine was investigated in vitro using a microsuperfusion procedure in the pars compacta (SNC) and the pars reticulata (SNR) of the cat substantia nigra. The spontaneous release of [³H]DA was threefold higher in the SNC than in the SNR and amphetamine (1 μM) enhanced similarly [³H]DA release in both nigral areas. In the absence of magnesium, NMDA (50 μM) stimulated markedly the release of [³H]DA in the SNC and SNR, these effects being completely prevented by MK 801 (1 μM), the NMDA receptor antagonist. The DA uptake inhibitor, nomifensine (5 μM), increased the amount of [³H]DA recovered in SNC (×2) and SNR (×3) superfusates but did not significantly modify the NMDA-evoked responses. The effects of NMDA seen in the absence or presence of nomifensine persisted when the two nigral areas were continuously superfused with tetrodotoxin (1 μM). These results are in favor of the presence of NMDA receptors on dopaminergic dendritic arborizations and indicate that the stimulation of these receptors facilitates in a similar way the release of DA from proximal and distal dendrites.     

Receptor subtype-specific modulation by dopamine of glutamatergic responses in striatal medium spiny neurons

The output of GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons in the dorsal striatum is controlled in part by glutamatergic input from the neocortex and the thalamus, and dopaminergic input from ventral midbrain. We acutely isolated these neurons from juvenile (P14-24) rats to study the consequences of the interaction between glutamate and dopamine for neuronal excitability. Single-cell RT-PCR analysis was used to identify the expression patterns of dopamine receptors. D1 and D2 dopamine receptor mRNA was detected in 11/22 and 3/22 of isolated neurons, respectively. Receptor mRNA co-expression was detected in 1/22 cells tested. Whole-cell voltage clamp recording (V(h)=-70 mV) was combined with local or bath application of dopaminergic and glutamatergic agonists to explore dopamine receptor modulation of glutamatergic excitation. Glutamate-evoked inward currents (5 microM, Mg(2+)-free, 1 microM glycine) were attenuated by dopamine (5 microM) to 83.2+/-3.6% (n=31). NMDA-evoked (20 microM), APV-sensitive currents were attenuated by dopamine to 80.9+/-4.5% (n=24). NMDA-induced responses were also attenuated by the D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 (1 microM; n=28), while the D2/3 receptor agonist quinpirole (10 microM) had no effect. The currents evoked by application of AMPA (5 microM) displayed a steady rundown. Application of dopamine abolished or significantly reduced the rundown in the cells tested (n=17). A similar effect was observed after the application of SKF 38393 (1 microM), while quinpirole (10 microM) had no significant effect. Our results provide direct evidence for modulation by dopamine of glutamatergic responses of striatal medium spiny neurons, and demonstrate that the effects of this neuromodulator are receptor subtype specific. Disruption of this modulatory effect is likely to contribute to movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease.     

Dopamine antagonists induce fos-like-immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra and entopeduncular nucleus of the rat

Injections of the D₂ receptor antagonists haloperidol (0.5–8 mg/kg) and metoclopramide (6.25–50 mg/kg) in rats resulted in a dose dependent induction of Fos-like-immunoreactivity in the rostral portion of the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN) and in the medial portion of the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra (SNpr). Nigral staining occurred exclusively in neurons which were not immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase and could be antagonized by pretreatment with the anticholinergic drug scopolamine (3 mg/kg). Effects were much less pronounced following injections of the selective D1 antagonist SCH-23390 (2–8 mg/kg). No staining could be observed following administration of the 5HT₃ antagonist MDL-72222 (10 mg/kg) or the 5HT₁/5HT₂ antagonist metergoline (5 mg/kg), suggesting that the effects observed with dopamine antagonists were not secondary to actions at serotonin receptors. These results are consistant with the hypothesis that blockade of dopamine receptors results in a disinhibition of cells within the SNpr and EPN and further suggest that examination of immediate-early gene expression may provide a useful tool for studying the extrastriatal circuitry engaged by manipulations of dopaminergic transmission.     

Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus enhances the release of dopamine in the rat substantia nigra

The release of dopamine in the substantia nigra and striatum was investigated in halothane anaesthetized rats by means of the push-pull cannula method. Electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus produced a marked enhancement of dopamine release in the ipsilateral substantia nigra. This effect is likely to be mediated by subthalamic efferent neurons since the application of acetylcholine in the subthalamic nucleus produced a similar effect. A later decrease of dopamine release was always observed in the ipsilateral striatum and was attributed to the autoregulation mechanisms of nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons.     

GABAB-Receptor activation alters the firing pattern of dopamine neurons in the rat substantia nigra

Previous electrophysiological experiments have emphasized the importance of the firing pattern for the functioning of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. In this regard, excitatory amino acid receptors appear to constitute an important modulatory control mechanism. In the present study, extracellular recording techniques were used to investigate the significance of GABA_B-receptor activation for the firing properties of DA neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) in the rat. Intravenous administration of the GABA_B-receptor agonist baclofen (1–16 mg/kg) was associated with a dose-dependent regularisation of the firing pattern, concomitant with a reduction in burst firing. At higher doses (16–32 mg/kg), the firing rate of the DA neurons was dose-dependently decreased. Also, microiontophoretic application of baclofen regularized the firing pattern of nigral DA neurons, including a reduction of burst firing. Both the regularisation of the firing pattern and inhibition of firing rate produced by systemic baclofen administration was antagonized by the GABA_B-receptor antagonist CGP 35348 (200 mg/kg, l.v.). The GABA_A-receptor agonist muscimol produced effects on the firing properties of DA neurons that were opposite to those observed following baclofen, i.e., an increase in firing rate accompanied by a Cecreased regularity. The NMDA receptor antagonist MK 801 (0.4–3.2 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a moderate, dose-dependent increase in the firing rate of the nigral DA neurons as well as a slightly regularized firing pattern. Pretreatment with MK 801 (3.2 mg/kg, i.v., 3–10 min) did neither promote nor prevent the regularisation of the firing pattern or inhibition of firing rate on the nigral DA neurons produced by baclofen. The present results clearly show that GABA_B-receptors can alter the firing pattern of nigral DA neurons, hereby counterbalancing the previously described ability of glutamate to induce burst Firing activity on these neurons. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A cholinergic input to the substantia nigra pars compacta increases striatal dopamine metabolism measured by in vivo voltammetry

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and ascorbic acid (AA) were measured by differential pulse voltammetry in the neostriatum of anesthetized rats. Physostigmine (2.3 nmol) applied into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), increased DOPAC concentration in the ipsilateral neostriatum, but did not modify AA levels. The largest increase of striatal DOPAC (37 +/- 8% above basal) was observed when physostigmine was applied at less than 0.5 mm from SNc, and decreased with increasing distance of the injection site from the pars compacta region. Chemical stimulation of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) with kainic acid (2.3 nmol) increased both DOPAC and AA concentration in the ipsilateral neostriatum. Pretreatment with the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the increase of striatal DOPAC from 20 to 70 min after kainic acid injection into the PPN, whereas the increase of AA was reduced from 90 to 160 min. By contrast, the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (4 mg/kg, i.p.) did not inhibit neither DOPAC nor AA increase elicited by the chemical stimulation of PPN. These results support the existence of cholinergic neurotransmission within the SNc that increases the firing rate of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, enhancing dopamine turnover in neostriatum without changes in AA release. They also suggest that the PPN could be the origin of cholinergic afferents to the SNc that modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons, through activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Finally, the activation of a multisynaptic loop involving a cholinergic pathway which modulates the activity of the glutamatergic corticostriatal neurons is postulated to explain the increase of AA in neostriatum observed after PPN stimulation.