Alteration of dopaminergic markers in gastrointestinal tract of different rodent models of Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Neuroscience Vol. 153; no. 3; pp. 634 - 644
• Main Authors: Tian, Y.-M, Chen, X, Luo, D.-Z, Zhang, X.-H, Xue, H, Zheng, L.-F, Yang, N, Wang, X.-M, Zhu, J.-X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15-05-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1;2;3;6-tetrahydropyridine; 6-hydroxydopamine; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Blotting, Western; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Disease Models, Animal; dopamine; Dopamine - metabolism; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; dopamine transporter; Enteric Nervous System - metabolism; Enteric Nervous System - pathology; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism; Gastrointestinal Tract - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; MPTP Poisoning - metabolism; MPTP Poisoning - pathology; Neurology; Oxidopamine - toxicity; Parkinsonian Disorders - metabolism; Parkinsonian Disorders - pathology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - metabolism; tyrosine hydroxylase; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; giant migrating contractions; RT; Parkinson's disease; GET1/2; normal goat serum; 6-OHDA; ENS; reverse transcription; 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1;2;3;6-tetrahydropyridine; GMCs; SN; dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; polymerase chain reaction; hematoxylin and eosin; GI; substantia nigra; IR; DMV; enteric nervous systems; the average time to empty half of the gastric contents; tyrosine hydroxylase; gastrointestinal; 6-hydroxydopamine; dopamine transporter; PD; TH; DAT; immunoreactive; LB; 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; MPTP; NGS; dopamine; DA; HE; PCR; Lewy body; Nervous system diseases; Dopamine; Enzyme; Rodentia; Parkinson disease; Catecholamine; Oxidopamine; Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; Cerebral disorder; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Central nervous system disease; Neurotransmitter; Degenerative disease; Models; Oxidoreductases; Carrier protein; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.02.033

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that is often associated with various gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The link between the alteration of dopaminergic system and the symptoms of the GI tract in PD is complicated. To determine the changes in the dopaminergic system in the GI tract in PD, two kinds of rodent PD models were used in the present study. One was 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) -treated rats in which 6-OHDA was microinjected in the bilateral substantia nigra (SN). The other was 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) -treated mice in which MPTP was injected intraperitoneally. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription (RT)-real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were used to evaluate and compare the levels of mRNA and protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the GI tract between normal and rodent PD models, as well as between 6-OHDA-treated rats and MPTP-treated mice. The results indicated that TH- and DAT-positive cells were widely distributed in the GI tract. There were significant differences in TH and DAT expression in the GI tract between normal and PD models, as well as between 6-OHDA-treated rats and MPTP-treated mice. The protein levels of TH and DAT in the GI tract were significantly increased in 6-OHDA-treated rats, but the protein level of TH was significantly decreased in MPTP-treated mice. In addition, there was visible atrophy of gastric epithelial parietal cells in MPTP-treated mice, although the protein level of DAT was not significantly changed. The different alterations of dopaminergic system in the GI tract of the two kinds of PD models might underline the differences in GI symptoms in PD patients and might be correlated with the disease severity and disease process affecting the GI tract.