Direct evidence for expression of dopamine receptors in astrocytes from basal ganglia

Monoaminergic Mechanisms in Epilepsy May Offer Innovative Therapeutic Opportunity for Monoaminergic Multi-Target Drugs

A large body of experimental and clinical evidence has strongly suggested that monoamines play an important role in regulating epileptogenesis, seizure susceptibility, convulsions, and comorbid psychiatric disorders commonly seen in people with epilepsy (PWE). However, neither the relative significance of individual monoamines nor their interaction has yet been fully clarified due to the complexity of these neurotransmitter systems. In addition, epilepsy is diverse, with many different seizure types and epilepsy syndromes, and the role played by monoamines may vary from one condition to another. In this review, we will focus on the role of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine, and melatonin in epilepsy. Recent experimental, clinical, and genetic evidence will be reviewed in consideration of the mutual relationship of monoamines with the other putative neurotransmitters. The complexity of epileptic pathogenesis may explain why the currently available drugs, developed according to the classic drug discovery paradigm of "one-molecule-one-target," have turned out to be effective only in a percentage of PWE. Although, no antiepileptic drugs currently target specifically monoaminergic systems, multi-target directed ligands acting on different monoaminergic proteins, present on both neurons and glia cells, may represent a new approach in the management of seizures, and their generation as well as comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders.

Menopause and Parkinson's disease. Interaction between estrogens and brain renin-angiotensin system in dopaminergic degeneration

The neuroprotective effects of menopausal hormonal therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) have not yet been clarified, and it is controversial whether there is a critical period for neuroprotection. Studies in animal models and clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that estrogens induce dopaminergic neuroprotection. Recent studies suggest that inhibition of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) mediates the effects of estrogens in PD models. In the substantia nigra, ovariectomy induces a decrease in levels of estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) and increases angiotensin activity, NADPH-oxidase activity and expression of neuroinflammatory markers, which are regulated by estrogen replacement therapy. There is a critical period for the neuroprotective effect of estrogen replacement therapy, and local ER-α and RAS play a major role. Astrocytes play a major role in ER-α-induced regulation of local RAS, but neurons and microglia are also involved. Interestingly, treatment with angiotensin receptor antagonists after the critical period induced neuroprotection.

Pharmacologic antagonism of dopamine receptor D3 attenuates neurodegeneration and motor impairment in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Neuroinflammation involves the activation of glial cells, which is associated to the progression of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Recently, we and other researchers demonstrated that dopamine receptor D3 (D3R)-deficient mice are completely refractory to neuroinflammation and consequent neurodegeneration associated to the acute intoxication with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). In this study we examined the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism of a D3R-selective antagonist, PG01037, in mice intoxicated with a chronic regime of administration of MPTP and probenecid (MPTPp). Biodistribution analysis indicated that intraperitoneally administered PG01037 crosses the blood-brain barrier and reaches the highest concentration in the brain 40 min after the injection. Furthermore, the drug was preferentially distributed to the brain in comparison to the plasma. Treatment of MPTPp-intoxicated mice with PG01037 (30 mg/kg, administrated twice a week for five weeks) attenuated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, as evaluated by stereological analysis, and the loss of striatal dopaminergic terminals, as determined by densitometric analyses of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter immunoreactivities. Accordingly, the treatment resulted in significant improvement of motor performance of injured animals. Interestingly, the therapeutic dose of PG01037 exacerbated astrogliosis and resulted in increased ramification density of microglial cells in the striatum of MPTPp-intoxicated mice. Further analyses suggested that D3R expressed in astrocytes favours a beneficial astrogliosis with anti-inflammatory consequences on microglia. Our findings indicate that D3R-antagonism exerts a therapeutic effect in parkinsonian animals by reducing the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, alleviating motor impairments and modifying the pro-inflammatory phenotype of glial cells.

Glycine release from astrocytes via functional reversal of GlyT1

It was previously reported that functional glycine receptors were expressed in neonatal prefrontal cortex; however, the glycine-releasing cells were unknown. We hypothesized that astrocytes might be a major glycine source, and examined the glycine release properties of astrocytes. We also hypothesized that dopamine (DA) might be a trigger for the astrocytic glycine release, as numerous DA terminals localize in the cortex. We combined two different methods to confirm the glycine release from astrocytes. Firstly, we analyzed the supernatant of astrocytes by amino acid analyzer after DA stimulation, and detect significant glycine peak. Furthermore, we utilized a patch-clamp biosensor method to confirm the glycine release from astrocytes by using GlyRα1 and Glyβ-expressing HEK293T cells, and detected significant glycine-evoked current upon DA stimulation. Thus, we clearly demonstrated that DA induces glycine release from astrocytes. Surprisingly, DA caused a functional reversal of astrocytic glycine transporter 1, an astrocytic type of glycine transporter, causing astrocytes to release glycine. Hence, astrocytes transduce pre-synaptic DA signals to glycine signals through a reversal of astrocytic glycine transporter 1 to regulate neuronal excitability. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13785.

Dopamine increases NMDA-stimulated calcium flux in striatopallidal neurons through a matrix metalloproteinase-dependent mechanism

Dopamine (DA) is a potent neuromodulator known to influence glutamatergic transmission in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). It acts on D1- and D2-like DA receptors that are expressed on two distinct subpopulations. MSNs projecting to the substantia nigra express D1 receptors (D1Rs), while those projecting to the lateral globus pallidus express D2 receptors (D2Rs). D1R signalling in particular can increase excitatory transmission through varied protein kinase A-dependent, cell-autonomous pathways. Mechanisms by which D1R signalling could increase excitatory transmission in D2R-bearing MSNs have been relatively less explored. Herein, the possibility is considered that D1R agonists increase levels of soluble factors that subsequently influence N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated calcium flux in D2R neurons. This study focuses on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and MMP-generated integrin binding ligands, important soluble effectors of glutamatergic transmission that may be elevated in the setting of excess DA. It was observed that DA and a D1R agonist, SKF81297, increase MMP activity in extracts from striatal slices, as determined by cleavage of the substrate β-dystroglycan. Using mice engineered to express the calcium indicator GCaMP3 in striatopallidal D2R-bearing neurons, it was also observed that SKF81297 pretreatment of slices (60 min) potentiates NMDA-stimulated calcium increases in this subpopulation. Effects are diminished by pretreatment with an antagonist of MMP activity or an inhibitor of integrin-dependent signalling. Together, results suggest that DA signalling can increase excitatory transmission in D2R neurons through an MMP-dependent mechanism. Future studies may be warranted to determine whether D1R-stimulated MMP-dependent processes contribute to behaviours in which increased activity in striatopallidal MSNs plays a role.

HIV Subtypes B and C gp120 and Methamphetamine Interaction: Dopaminergic System Implicates Differential Neuronal Toxicity

HIV subtypes or clades differentially induce HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and substance abuse is known to accelerate HIV disease progression. The HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 plays a major role in binding and budding in the central nervous system (CNS) and impacts dopaminergic functions. However, the mechanisms utilized by HIV-1 clades to exert differential effects and the methamphetamine (METH)-associated dopaminergic dysfunction are poorly understood. We hypothesized that clade B and C gp120 structural sequences, modeling based analysis, dopaminergic effect, and METH potentiate neuronal toxicity in astrocytes. We evaluated the effect of clade B and C gp120 and/or METH on the DRD-2, DAT, CaMKs and CREBP transcription. Both the structural sequence and modeling studies demonstrated that clade B gp120 in V1-V4, α -2 and N-glycosylated sites are distinct from clade C gp120. The distinct structure and sequence variation of clade B gp120 differentially impact DRD-2, DAT, CaMK II and CaMK IV mRNA, protein and intracellular expression compared to clade C gp120. However, CREB transcription is upregulated by both clade B and C gp120, and METH co-treatment potentiated these effects. In conclusion, distinct structural sequences of HIV-1 clade B and C gp120 differentially regulate the dopaminergic pathway and METH potentiates neurotoxicity.

Volume Transmission in Central Dopamine and Noradrenaline Neurons and Its Astroglial Targets

Already in the 1960s the architecture and pharmacology of the brainstem dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) neurons with formation of vast numbers of DA and NA terminal plexa of the central nervous system (CNS) indicated that they may not only communicate via synaptic transmission. In the 1980s the theory of volume transmission (VT) was introduced as a major communication together with synaptic transmission in the CNS. VT is an extracellular and cerebrospinal fluid transmission of chemical signals like transmitters, modulators etc. moving along energy gradients making diffusion and flow of VT signals possible. VT interacts with synaptic transmission mainly through direct receptor-receptor interactions in synaptic and extrasynaptic heteroreceptor complexes and their signaling cascades. The DA and NA neurons are specialized for extrasynaptic VT at the soma-dendrtitic and terminal level. The catecholamines released target multiple DA and adrenergic subtypes on nerve cells, astroglia and microglia which are the major cell components of the trophic units building up the neural-glial networks of the CNS. DA and NA VT can modulate not only the strength of synaptic transmission but also the VT signaling of the astroglia and microglia of high relevance for neuron-glia interactions. The catecholamine VT targeting astroglia can modulate the fundamental functions of astroglia observed in neuroenergetics, in the Glymphatic system, in the central renin-angiotensin system and in the production of long-distance calcium waves. Also the astrocytic and microglial DA and adrenergic receptor subtypes mediating DA and NA VT can be significant drug targets in neurological and psychiatric disease.

Brain tissue responses to neural implants impact signal sensitivity and intervention strategies

Implantable biosensors are valuable scientific tools for basic neuroscience research and clinical applications. Neurotechnologies provide direct readouts of neurological signal and neurochemical processes. These tools are generally most valuable when performance capacities extend over months and years to facilitate the study of memory, plasticity, and behavior or to monitor patients’ conditions. These needs have generated a variety of device designs from microelectrodes for fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) and electrophysiology to microdialysis probes for sampling and detecting various neurochemicals. Regardless of the technology used, the breaching of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to insert devices triggers a cascade of biochemical pathways resulting in complex molecular and cellular responses to implanted devices. Molecular and cellular changes in the microenvironment surrounding an implant include the introduction of mechanical strain, activation of glial cells, loss of perfusion, secondary metabolic injury, and neuronal degeneration. Changes to the tissue microenvironment surrounding the device can dramatically impact electrochemical and electrophysiological signal sensitivity and stability over time. This review summarizes the magnitude, variability, and time course of the dynamic molecular and cellular level neural tissue responses induced by state-of-the-art implantable devices. Studies show that insertion injuries and foreign body response can impact signal quality across all implanted central nervous system (CNS) sensors to varying degrees over both acute (seconds to minutes) and chronic periods (weeks to months). Understanding the underlying biological processes behind the brain tissue response to the devices at the cellular and molecular level leads to a variety of intervention strategies for improving signal sensitivity and longevity.

Striatal astrocytes act as a reservoir for L-DOPA

L-DOPA is therapeutically efficacious in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), although dopamine (DA) neurons are severely degenerated. Since cortical astrocytes express neutral amino acid transporter (LAT) and DA transporter (DAT), the uptake and metabolism of L-DOPA and DA in striatal astrocytes may influence their availability in the dopaminergic system of PD. To assess possible L-DOPA- and DA-uptake and metabolic properties of striatal astrocytes, we examined the expression of L-DOPA, DA and DAT in striatal astrocytes of hemi-parkinsonian model rats after repeated L-DOPA administration, and measured the contents of L-DOPA, DA and their metabolite in primary cultured striatal astrocytes after L-DOPA/DA treatment. Repeated injections of L-DOPA induced apparent L-DOPA- and DA-immunoreactivities and marked expression of DAT in reactive astrocytes on the lesioned side of the striatum in hemi-parkinsonian rats. Exposure to DA for 4h significantly increased the levels of DA and its metabolite DOPAC in cultured striatal astrocytes. L-DOPA was also markedly increased in cultured striatal astrocytes after 4-h L-DOPA exposure, but DA was not detected 4 or 8h after L-DOPA treatment, despite the expression of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase in astrocytes. Furthermore, the intracellular level of L-DOPA in cultured striatal astrocytes decreased rapidly after removal of extracellular L-DOPA. The results suggest that DA uptaken into striatal astrocytes is rapidly metabolized and that striatal astrocytes act as a reservoir of L-DOPA that govern the uptake or release of L-DOPA depending on extracellular L-DOPA concentration, but are less capable of converting L-DOPA to DA.

A leptin-mediated central mechanism in analgesia-enhanced opioid reward in rats

Opioid analgesics are commonly used in chronic pain management despite a potential risk of rewarding. However, it remains unclear whether opioid analgesia would enhance the opioid rewarding effect thereby contributing to opioid rewarding. Utilizing a rat paradigm of conditioned place preference (CPP) combined with ankle monoarthritis as a condition of persistent nociception, we showed that analgesia induced by either morphine or the nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen increased CPP scores in arthritic rats, suggesting that analgesia itself had a rewarding effect. However, arthritic rats exhibited a significantly higher CPP score in response to morphine than ibuprofen. Thus, the rewarding effect of morphine was enhanced in the presence of persistent nociception, producing a phenomenon of analgesia-enhanced opioid reward. At the cellular level, administration of morphine activated a cascade of leptin expression, glial activation, and dopamine receptor upregulation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), while administration of ibuprofen decreased glial activation with no effect on leptin expression in the NAc. Furthermore, the morphine rewarding effect was blocked in leptin deficient ob/ob mice or by neutralizing leptin or interleukin-1β in the NAc without diminishing morphine analgesia. The data indicate that systemic opioid can activate a leptin-mediated central mechanism in the NAc that led to the enhanced opioid rewarding effect. These findings provide evidence for an interaction between opioid analgesia and opioid rewarding, which may have implications in clinical opioid dose escalation in chronic pain management.

Brain renin-angiotensin system and dopaminergic cell vulnerability

Although the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was classically considered as a circulating system that regulates blood pressure, many tissues are now known to have a local RAS. Angiotensin, via type 1 receptors, is a major activator of the NADPH-oxidase complex, which mediates several key events in oxidative stress (OS) and inflammatory processes involved in the pathogenesis of major aging-related diseases. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of RAS components in the basal ganglia, and particularly in the nigrostriatal system. In the nigrostriatal system, RAS hyperactivation, via NADPH-oxidase complex activation, exacerbates OS and the microglial inflammatory response and contributes to progression of dopaminergic degeneration, which is inhibited by angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Several factors may induce an increase in RAS activity in the dopaminergic system. A decrease in dopaminergic activity induces compensatory upregulation of local RAS function in both dopaminergic neurons and glia. In addition to its role as an essential neurotransmitter, dopamine may also modulate microglial inflammatory responses and neuronal OS via RAS. Important counterregulatory interactions between angiotensin and dopamine have also been observed in several peripheral tissues. Neurotoxins and proinflammatory factors may also act on astrocytes to induce an increase in RAS activity, either independently of or before the loss of dopamine. Consistent with a major role of RAS in dopaminergic vulnerability, increased RAS activity has been observed in the nigra of animal models of aging, menopause and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, which also showed higher dopaminergic vulnerability. Manipulation of the brain RAS may constitute an effective neuroprotective strategy against dopaminergic vulnerability and progression of Parkinson's disease.

Selective modulation of GABAergic tonic current by dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-dependent rats

The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is a key structure of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system and plays an important role in mediating alcohol-seeking behaviors. Alterations in glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling were recently demonstrated in the NAcc of rats after chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) treatment, a model of alcohol dependence. Here we studied dopamine (DA) modulation of GABAergic signaling and how this modulation might be altered by CIE treatment. We show that the tonic current (I(tonic)) mediated by extrasynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A)Rs) of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the NAcc core is differentially modulated by DA at concentrations in the range of those measured in vivo (0.01-1 μM), without affecting the postsynaptic kinetics of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Use of selective D1 receptor (D1R) and D2 receptor (D2R) ligands revealed that I(tonic) potentiation by DA (10 nM) is mediated by D1Rs while I(tonic) depression by DA (0.03-1 μM) is mediated by D2Rs in the same MSNs. Addition of guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPβS) to the recording pipettes eliminated I(tonic) decrease by the selective D2R agonist quinpirole (5 nM), leaving intact the quinpirole effect on mIPSC frequency. Recordings from CIE and vehicle control (CIV) MSNs during application of D1R agonist (SKF 38393, 100 nM) or D2R agonist (quinpirole, 2 nM) revealed that SKF 38393 potentiated I(tonic) to the same extent, while quinpirole reduced I(tonic) to a similar extent, in both groups of rats. Our data suggest that the selective modulatory effects of DA on I(tonic) are unaltered by CIE treatment and withdrawal.

Aging-related dysregulation of dopamine and angiotensin receptor interaction

It is not known whether the aging-related decrease in dopaminergic function leads to the aging-related higher vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons and risk for Parkinson's disease. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a major role in the inflammatory response, neuronal oxidative stress, and dopaminergic vulnerability via type 1 (AT1) receptors. In the present study, we observed a counterregulatory interaction between dopamine and angiotensin receptors. We observed overexpression of AT1 receptors in the striatum and substantia nigra of young adult dopamine D1 and D2 receptor-deficient mice and young dopamine-depleted rats, together with compensatory overexpression of AT2 receptors or compensatory downregulation of angiotensinogen and/or angiotensin. In aged rats, we observed downregulation of dopamine and dopamine receptors and overexpression of AT1 receptors in aged rats, without compensatory changes observed in young animals. L-Dopa therapy inhibited RAS overactivity in young dopamine-depleted rats, but was ineffective in aged rats. The results suggest that dopamine may play an important role in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation in the substantia nigra and striatum via the RAS, which is impaired by aging.

Purinergic and glutamatergic receptors on astroglia

Astroglial cells express many neurotransmitter receptors; the receptors to glutamate and ATP being the most abundant. Here, we provide a concise overview on the expression and main properties of astroglial glutamate receptors (ionotropic receptors represented by AMPA and NMDA subtypes) and metabotropic (mainly mGluR5 and mGluR3 subtypes) and purinoceptors (adenosine receptors of A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 types, ionotropic P2X1/5 and P2X7 subtypes, and metabotropic P2Y purinoceptors). We also discuss the role of these receptors in glial physiology and pathophysiology.

Glial modulators as potential treatments of psychostimulant abuse

Glia (including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes), which constitute the majority of cells in the brain, have many of the same receptors as neurons, secrete neurotransmitters and neurotrophic and neuroinflammatory factors, control clearance of neurotransmitters from synaptic clefts, and are intimately involved in synaptic plasticity. Despite their prevalence and spectrum of functions, appreciation of their potential general importance has been elusive since their identification in the mid-1800s, and only relatively recently have they been gaining their due respect. This development of appreciation has been nurtured by the growing awareness that drugs of abuse, including the psychostimulants, affect glial activity, and glial activity, in turn, has been found to modulate the effects of the psychostimulants. This developing awareness has begun to illuminate novel pharmacotherapeutic targets for treating psychostimulant abuse, for which targeting more conventional neuronal targets has not yet resulted in a single, approved medication. In this chapter, we discuss the molecular pharmacology, physiology, and functional relationships that the glia have especially in the light in which they present themselves as targets for pharmacotherapeutics intended to treat psychostimulant abuse disorders. We then review a cross section of preclinical studies that have manipulated glial processes whose behavioral effects have been supportive of considering the glia as drug targets for psychostimulant-abuse medications. We then close with comments regarding the current clinical evaluation of relevant compounds for treating psychostimulant abuse, as well as the likelihood of future prospects.

Dopamine-angiotensin interactions in the basal ganglia and their relevance for Parkinson's disease

Renin-angiotensin systems are known to act in many tissues, for example, the blood vessel wall or kidney, where a close interaction between angiotensin and dopamine has been demonstrated. Regulatory interactions between the dopaminergic and renin-angiotensin systems have recently been described in the substantia nigra and striatum. In animal models, dopamine depletion induces compensatory overactivation of the local renin-angiotensin system, which primes microglial responses and neuron vulnerability by activating NADPH-oxidase. Hyperactivation of the local renin-angiotensin system exacerbates the inflammatory microglial response, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic degeneration, all of which are inhibited by angiotensin receptor blockers and inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzymes. In this review we provide evidence suggesting that the renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in dopamine's mediated neuroinflammation and oxidative stress changes in Parkinson's disease. We suggest that manipulating brain angiotensin may constitute an effective neuroprotective strategy for Parkinson's disease.

Synchronized electrical stimulation of the rat medial forebrain bundle and perforant pathway generates an additive BOLD response in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex

To study how a synchronized activation of two independent pathways affects the fMRI response in a common targeted brain region, blood oxygen dependent (BOLD) signals were measured during electrical stimulation of the right medial forebrain bundle (MFB), the right perforant pathway (PP) and concurrent stimulation of the two fiber systems. Repetitive electrical stimulations of the MFB triggered significant positive BOLD responses in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), septum, anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC), ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN), right entorhinal cortex (EC) and colliculus superior, which, in general, declined during later stimulation trains. At the same time, negative BOLD responses were observed in the striatum. Thus, the same stimulus caused region-specific hemodynamic responses. An identical electrical stimulation of the PP generated positive BOLD responses in the right dentate gyrus/hippocampus proper/subiculum (DG/HC), the right entorhinal cortex and the left entorhinal cortex, which remained almost stable during consecutive stimulation trains. Co-stimulation of the two fiber systems resulted in an additive activation pattern, i.e., the BOLD responses were stronger during the stimulation of the two pathways than during the stimulation of only one pathway. However, during the simultaneous stimulation of the two pathways, the development of the BOLD responses to consecutive trains changed. The BOLD responses in regions that were predominantly activated by MFB stimulation (i.e., NAcc, septum and ACC/mPFC) did not decline as fast as during pure MFB stimulation, thus an additive BOLD response was only observed during later trains. In contrast, in the brain regions that were predominantly activated by PP stimulation (i.e., right EC, DG/HC), co-stimulation of the MFB only resulted in an additive effect during early trains but not later trains. Consequently, the development of the BOLD responses during consecutive stimulations indicates the presence of an interaction between the two pathways in a target region, whereas the observed averaged BOLD responses do not.

Dopaminergic modulation of tonic but not phasic GABAA-receptor-mediated current in the ventrobasal thalamus of Wistar and GAERS rats

Activation of GABA(A) receptors by GABA causes phasic and tonic conductances in different brain areas. In the ventrobasal (VB) thalamus, tonic inhibition originates from GABA acting on extrasynaptic receptors. Here we show that dopamine (DA), the D2-like agonist quinpirole and the selective D4R agonist PD-168,077 decrease the magnitude of the tonic GABA(A) current while D1-like agonist SKF39383 lacks any significant effects in VB neurons of Wistar rats. On the other hand, DA and D1/D2 receptor activation does not alter phasic GABA(A) conductance. As we previously reported that an increased tonic GABA(A) current in VB neurons is critical for absence seizure generation, we also investigated whether D2-D4 receptor activation is capable of normalizing this aberrant conductance in genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS). Quinpirole and PD-168,077 selectively reduces tonic GABA(A) current as in normal rats. Therefore, it is conceivable that some DA anti-absence effects occur via modulation of tonic GABA(A) current in the VB.

Protective effects of resveratrol on glutamate-induced damages in murine brain cultures

Resveratrol interacts with the complex III of the respiratory chain, is a radical scavenger and also suppressor of radical formation in the mitochondria. It reduces the intracellular calcium levels in pre- and postsynaptic neurons and also may inhibit the pro-apoptotic factors in glutamate overflow that occurs, e.g. in excitotoxicity. In cell cultures, glutamate overflow leads to formation of free radicals and results in apoptosis. This increase of radical concentration is enhanced by influx of cations like iron or copper ions into the cell. In present study, the beneficial action of resveratrol was investigated in glutamate-affected dissociated cultures of mice mesencephalic primary cultures. On the 10th day in vitro, 5 mM of glutamate was administered for 15 min and the cultures were further maintained in medium containing 0, 0.01, 0.1 or 1 μM of resveratrol. Resveratrol reduced glutamate-induced damages. The number of dopaminergic neurons was increased and their morphology ameliorated when resveratrol followed glutamate treatment. A significant reduction of glutamate-induced radical formation in cultures treated with resveratrol corresponded with a considerable high antioxidative potential of this stilbene determined using the DPPH assay. In addition, ICP-OES was set up to measure the tissues' copper and iron contents in organotypic cortical cultures of glutamate treated (0 or 30 μM) slices and those in which resveratrol (0, 0.01, 0.1 or 1 μM) was co-administered. Levels of copper were dose-dependently increased, and also the concentration of iron was higher in resveratrol-treated organotypic cultures. The hypothesis that resveratrol has beneficial actions against glutamate damages was verified.

Molecular mechanism regulating 24-hour rhythm of dopamine D3 receptor expression in mouse ventral striatum

The dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) in the ventral striatum is thought to influence motivation and motor functions. Although the expression of DRD3 in the ventral striatum has been shown to exhibit 24-hour variations, the mechanisms underlying the variation remain obscure. Here, we demonstrated that molecular components of the circadian clock act as regulators that control the 24-hour variation in the expression of DRD3. The transcription of DRD3 was enhanced by the retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα), and its activation was inhibited by the orphan receptor REV-ERBα, an endogenous antagonist of RORα. The serum or dexamethasone-induced oscillation in the expression of DRD3 in cells was abrogated by the downregulation or overexpression of REV-ERBα, suggesting that REV-ERBα functions as a regulator of DRD3 oscillations in the cellular autonomous clock. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays of the DRD3 promoter indicated that the binding of the REV-ERBα protein to the DRD3 promoter increased in the early dark phase. DRD3 protein expression varied with higher levels during the dark phase. Moreover, the effects of the DRD3 agonist 7-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT)-induced locomotor hypoactivity were significantly increased when DRD3 proteins were abundant. These results suggest that RORα and REV-ERBα consist of a reciprocating mechanism wherein RORα upregulates the expression of DRD3, whereas REV-ERBα periodically suppresses the expression at the time of day when REV-ERBα is abundant. Our present findings revealed that a molecular link between the circadian clock and the function of DRD3 in the ventral striatum acts as a modulator of the pharmacological actions of DRD3 agonists/antagonists.

Lower Left Thalamic Myo-Inositol Levels Associated with Greater Cognitive Impulsivity in Marijuana-Dependent Young Men: Preliminary Spectroscopic Evidence at 4T

The effects of chronic marijuana (MRJ) use on neurochemistry are not well characterized. Previously, altered global myo-Inositol (mI) concentrations and distribution in white matter were associated with impulsivity and mood symptoms in young MRJ-dependent men. The objective of this study was to retrospectively examine previously collected data, to investigate the potential regional specificity of metabolite levels in brain regions densely packed with cannabinoid receptors. Spectra were acquired at 4.0 Tesla using 2D J-resolved proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to quantify the entire J-coupled spectral surface of metabolites from voxels in regions of interest. For the current regional spectral analyses, a 2D-JMRSI grid was positioned over the central axial slice and shifted in the x and y dimensions to optimally position voxels over regions containing thalamus, temporal lobe, and parieto-occipital cortex. MRJ users exhibited significantly reduced mI levels in the left thalamus (lThal), relative to non-using participants, which were associated with elevated cognitive impulsivity. Other regional analyses did not reveal any significant group differences. The current findings indicate that reduced mI levels are regionally specific to the lThal in MRJ users. Furthermore, findings suggest that mI and the lThal uniquely contribute to elevated impulsivity.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase induced by dopamine in cultured astrocytes

Under some pathological conditions in brain, a large amount of superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) is produced, causing various cellular damages. Among three isozymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), extracellular (EC)-SOD should play a role to detoxify O(2)(-) in extracellular space; however, a little is known about EC-SOD in brain. Although dopamine (DA) stored in the synaptic vesicle is stable, the excess leaked DA is spontaneously oxidized to yield O(2)(-) and reactive DA quinones, causing damages of dopaminergic neurons. In the present study, we examined the effects of DA on SOD expression in cultured rat cortical astrocytes. By means of RT-PCR, all mRNA of three isozymes of SOD could be detected; however, only EC-SOD was increased by DA exposure for 24 h, dose-dependently. The expression of EC-SOD protein and the cell-surface SOD activity in astrocytes also increased with 100 μM DA exposure. The increase of EC-SOD mRNA by DA was inhibited by a DA transporter inhibitor, GBR12909, whereas it was not changed by DA receptor antagonists, SKF-83566 (D1) and haloperidol (D2). Furthermore, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, and antioxidants, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and glutathione, also did not affect the DA-induced expression of EC-SOD mRNA. On the other hand, an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB), ammonium pyrrolidine-1-carbodithioate, suppressed the DA-induced expression of EC-SOD mRNA. These results suggest that DA incorporated into the cells caused the induction of EC-SOD mRNA followed by the enhancements of EC-SOD protein level and the enzyme activity, and that NF-κB activation is involved in the mechanisms of the EC-SOD induction. The regulation of EC-SOD in astrocytes surrounding dopaminergic neurons may contribute to the defensive mechanism against oxidative stress in brain.

Impact of L-DOPA treatment on regional cerebral blood flow and metabolism in the basal ganglia in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Large increases in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) have been measured in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) following the administration of L-DOPA, but the underlying mechanisms have remained unknown. In this study, rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions were used to compare patterns of rCBF and regional cerebral glucose utilisation (rCGU) in chronically L-DOPA-treated subjects following a final injection of L-DOPA or saline. The same animal model was used to the leakage of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) tracer molecule at 60 min vs. 24h following the last L-DOPA injection of a chronic treatment. All the parameters under investigation were examined with brain autoradiography following intravenous injections of specific radiotracers in awake animals ([14C]-iodoantipyrine for rCBF, [14C]-2-deoxyglucose for rCGU, and [14C]-α-aminoisobutyric acid for BBB leakage). Significant changes in rCBF and rCGU on the side ipsilateral to the 6-OHDA lesion relative to the non-lesioned side were seen at 60 min ("ON") but not 24h ("OFF") following L-DOPA administration. These changes were not seen in sham-operated rats. In the output nuclei of the basal ganglia (the entopeduncular nucleus and the substantia nigra pars reticulata) both rCBF and rCGU were elevated both in acutely L-DOPA-treated rats and chronically L-DOPA-treated rats displaying dyskinesia, but did not change significantly in chronically L-DOPA-treated non-dyskinetic cases. Acutely and chronically L-DOPA-treated rats with dyskinesia exhibited increases in rCBF "ON L-DOPA" also in the motor cortex, the striatum, and the globus pallidus, but the corresponding changes in rCGU did not show the same direction, magnitude, and/or relative group differences. The uptake of a BBB tracer (studied in the striatum and the substantia nigra reticulata in chronically L-DOPA treated rats) was significantly higher ON vs. OFF L-DOPA. The present results are the first to show that the administration of L-DOPA is followed by transient and robust increases in rCBF in the dopamine-denervated basal ganglia. This effect occurs already upon acute L-DOPA treatment and persists upon repeated drug administration in animals that develop dyskinesia. Increases in rCBF ON L-DOPA are not necessarily accompanied by enhanced glucose utilisation in the affected regions, pointing to altered mechanisms of neurovascular coupling. Finally, our results show that increases in rCBF ON L-DOPA may be accompanied by BBB hyperpermeability in the most affected regions.

Neurotransmitters and integration in neuronal-astroglial networks

Two major neural cell types, glia, astrocytes in particular, and neurones can release chemical transmitters that act as soluble signalling compounds for intercellular communication. Exocytosis, a process which depends on an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) levels, represents a common denominator for release of neurotransmitters, stored in secretory vesicles, from these neural cells. While neurones rely predominately on the immediate entry of Ca(2+) from the extracellular space to the cytosol in this process, astrocytes support their cytosolic Ca(2+) increases by appropriating this ion from the intracellular endoplasmic reticulum store and extracellular space. Additionally, astrocytes can release neurotransmitters using a variety of non-vesicular pathways which are mediated by an assortment of plasmalemmal channels and transporters. Once a neuronal and/or astrocytic neurotransmitter is released into the extracellular space, it can activate plasma membrane neurotransmitter receptors on neural cells, causing autocrine and/or paracrine signalling. Moreover, chemical transmission is essential not only for homocellular, but also for heterocellular bi-directional communication in the brain. Further detailed understanding of chemical transmission will aid our comprehension of the brain (dys)function in heath and disease.

Glial cells in (patho)physiology

Neuroglial cells define brain homeostasis and mount defense against pathological insults. Astroglia regulate neurogenesis and development of brain circuits. In the adult brain, astrocytes enter into intimate dynamic relationship with neurons, especially at synaptic sites where they functionally form the tripartite synapse. At these sites, astrocytes regulate ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, metabolically support neurons and monitor synaptic activity; one of the readouts of the latter manifests in astrocytic intracellular Ca(2+) signals. This form of astrocytic excitability can lead to release of chemical transmitters via Ca(2+) -dependent exocytosis. Once in the extracellular space, gliotransmitters can modulate synaptic plasticity and cause changes in behavior. Besides these physiological tasks, astrocytes are fundamental for progression and outcome of neurological diseases. In Alzheimer's disease, for example, astrocytes may contribute to the etiology of this disorder. Highly lethal glial-derived tumors use signaling trickery to coerce normal brain cells to assist tumor invasiveness. This review not only sheds new light on the brain operation in health and disease, but also points to many unknowns.

Levodopa Treatment Improves Functional Recovery After Experimental Stroke

Background and Purpose—

Delayed treatment of patients with stroke with levodopa/benserazide contributes to enhanced functional recovery, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate if levodopa/benserazide treatment improves recovery of lost neurological function and contributes to tissue reorganization in the rat brain after stroke.

Methods—

Male Wistar rats were subjected to transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (120 minutes) and treated with levodopa (1, 5, and 20 mg/kg)/benserazide (15 mg/kg) or saline for 12 consecutive days starting on Day 2 after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Infarct volume was determined and sensorimotor function was assessed using the rotating pole test, a 28-point neuroscore, and a cylinder test on Days 2, 7, and 14 after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of dopamine-1 and dopamine-2 receptors and the dopamine- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein in reactive astrocytes were analyzed in the ischemic hemisphere as well as in cultured astrocytes.

Results—

Treatment with levodopa/benserazide significantly improved the recovery of sensorimotor function after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery without affecting the infarct volume. In addition, we found that different subpopulations of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes in the peri-infarct area express dopamine-1 receptors and dopamine-2 receptors as well as dopamine- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein.

Conclusions—

Our results strongly corroborate the concept of recovery enhancing actions of levodopa treatment after stroke. Also, astrocytes in the peri-infarct area may contribute to the dopamine enhanced recovery mechanisms.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is upregulated by L-dopa in the parkinsonian brain: implications for the development of dyskinesia

Angiogenesis and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier have been reported to occur in animal models of Parkinson's disease and l-dopa-induced dyskinesia, but the significance of these phenomena has remained unclear. Using a validated rat model of l-dopa-induced dyskinesia, this study demonstrates that chronic treatment with l-dopa dose dependently induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the basal ganglia nuclei. Vascular endothelial growth factor was abundantly expressed in astrocytes and astrocytic processes in the proximity of blood vessels. When co-administered with l-dopa, a small molecule inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor signalling significantly attenuated the development of dyskinesia and completely blocked the angiogenic response and associated increase in blood-brain barrier permeability induced by the treatment. The occurrence of angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor upregulation was verified in post-mortem basal ganglia tissue from patients with Parkinson's disease with a history of dyskinesia, who exhibited increased microvascular density, microvascular nestin expression and an upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid. These congruent findings in the rat model and human patients indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor is implicated in the pathophysiology of l-dopa-induced dyskinesia and emphasize an involvement of the microvascular compartment in the adverse effects of l-dopa pharmacotherapy in Parkinson's disease.

Nigral and striatal regulation of angiotensin receptor expression by dopamine and angiotensin in rodents: implications for progression of Parkinson's disease

The basal ganglia have a local renin-angiotensin system and it has been shown that the loss of dopaminergic neurons induced by neurotoxins is amplified by local angiotensin II (AII) via angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT1) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) complex activation. Recent studies have revealed a high degree of counter-regulatory interactions between dopamine and AII receptors in non-neural cells such as renal proximal tubule cells. However, it is not known if this occurs in the basal ganglia. In the striatum and nigra, depletion of dopamine with reserpine induced a significant increase in the expression of AT1, angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2) and the NADPH subunit p47(phox) , which decreased as dopamine function was restored. Similarly, 6-hydroxydopamine-induced chronic dopaminergic denervation induced a significant increase in expression of AT1, AT2 and p47(phox) , which decreased with L-dopa administration. A significant reduction in expression of AT1 mRNA was also observed after administration of dopamine to cultures of microglial cells. Transgenic rats with very low levels of brain AII showed increased AT1, decreased p47 (phox) and no changes in AT2 expression, whereas mice deficient in AT1 exhibited a decrease in the expression of p47 (phox) and AT2. The administration of relatively high doses of AII (100 nm) decreased the expression of AT1, and the increased expression of AT2 and p47(phox) in primary mesencephalic cultures. The results reveal an important interaction between the dopaminergic and local renin-angiotensin system in the basal ganglia, which may be a major factor in the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Effects of atypical (risperidone) and typical (haloperidol) antipsychotic agents on astroglial functions

Although classical and atypical antipsychotics may have different neurotoxic effects, their underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, especially regarding neuroglial function. In the present study, we compared the atypical antipsychotic risperidone (0.01-10 μM) with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol (0.01-10 μM) regarding different aspects such as glutamate uptake, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, glutathione (GSH) content, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in C6 astroglial cells. Risperidone significantly increased glutamate uptake (up to 27%), GS activity (14%), and GSH content (up to 17%). In contrast, haloperidol was not able to change any of these glial functions. However, at concentration of 10 μM, haloperidol increased (12%) ROS production. Our data contribute to the clarification of different hypothesis concerning the putative neural responses after stimulus with different antipsychotics, and may establish important insights about how brain rewiring could be enhanced.

Intra-individual variability in genetic and environmental models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

The frequent observation of intra-individual variability (IIV) in the expression of ADHD symptoms suggest that IIV is an integral component of the disorder. We tested IIV in ADHD-like phenotype from five different studies of rodent models of ADHD, including studies with Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHR/NCrl and SHR/N), Wistar-Kyoto Hyperactive Rats (WKHA/N), Wistar-Kyoto Hypertensive rat (WKHT), PCB-126 and -153-treated Lewis rats and behaviorally normal Wistar/Mol, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY/N and WKY/NMol), and untreated Lewis rats. Averages of the absolute residual deviation of ADHD-like behavior from individual means ("individual phenotypic dispersion," PD(i)) were used to represent IIV in the fixed-interval (FI) and extinction (EXT) phases of operant behavioral activity. Across all studies, SHR rats had higher PD(i) than WKY rats (P < 0.0001) for all ADHD-like traits, and higher PD(i) for hyperactivity than WKHT and WKHA/N rats. Male SHR rats in particular had higher PD(i) for hyperactivity than male or female WKYs, SHR females for EXT hyperactivity, and higher dispersion for inattention than WKY females. These findings strongly suggest the genetic control of IIV, and suggest that the SHR may be a useful model for the identification of genes for IIV in human ADHD. These findings also obliquely support the SHR as a useful model for ADHD overall.

Astrocyte expression of D2-like dopamine receptors in the prefrontal cortex

The dopaminergic system is of crucial importance for understanding human behavior and the pathogenesis of many psychiatric and neurological conditions. The majority of studies addressing the localization of dopamine receptors (DR) examined the expression of DR in neurons, while its expression, precise anatomical localization and possible function in glial cells have been largely neglected. Here we examined the expression of D2-like family of DR in neuronal and glial cells in the normal human brain using immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence. Tissue samples from the right orbitomedial (Brodmann’s areas 11/12), dorsolateral (areas 9/46) and dorsal medial (area 9) prefrontal cortex were taken during autopsy from six subjects with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders, formalin-fixed, and embedded in paraffin. The sections were stained using novel anti-DRD2, anti-DRD3, and anti-DRD4 monoclonal antibodies. Adjacent sections were labeled with an anti-GFAP (astroglial marker) and an anti-CD68 antibody (macrophage/microglial marker). The pyramidal and non-pyramidal cells of all three regions analyzed had strong expression of DRD2 and DRD4, whereas DRD3 were very weakly expressed. DRD2 were more strongly expressed in layer III compared to layer V pyramidal neurons. In contrast, DRD4 receptors had a stronger expression in layer V neurons. The most conspicuous finding was the strong expression of DRD2, but not DRD3 or DRD4, receptors in the white matter fibrous astrocytes and in layer I protoplasmic astrocytes. Weak DRD2-immunoreactivity was also observed in protoplasmic astrocytes in layers III and V. These results suggest that DR-expressing astrocytes directly participate in dopaminergic transmission of the human prefrontal cortex.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of human macrophages is increased by dopamine: a bridge between HIV-associated neurologic disorders and drug abuse

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) that result from HIV infection of the central nervous system is increasing. Macrophages, the primary target for HIV within the central nervous system, play a central role in HIV-induced neuropathogenesis. Drug abuse exacerbates HAND, but the mechanism(s) by which this increased neuropathology results in more severe forms of HAND in HIV-infected drug abusers is unclear. The addictive and reinforcing effects of many drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, are mediated by increased extracellular dopamine in the brain. We propose a novel mechanism by which drugs of abuse intensify HIV neuropathogenesis through direct effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine on HIV infection of macrophages. We found that macrophages express dopamine receptors 1 and 2, and dopamine activates macrophages by increasing ERK 1 phosphorylation. Our results demonstrate for the first time that dopamine increases HIV replication in human macrophages and that the mechanism by which dopamine mediates this change is by increasing the total number of HIV-infected macrophages. This increase in HIV replication is mediated by activation of dopamine receptor 2. These findings suggest a common mechanism by which drugs of abuse enhance HIV replication in macrophages and indicate that the drug abuse-heightened levels of central nervous system dopamine could increase viral replication, thereby accelerating the development of HAND.

Metabolic biomarkers related to energy metabolism in Saudi autistic children

OBJECTIVES

Energy metabolism is usually manipulated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Autism is considered a definable systemic disorder resulting in a number of diverse factors that may affect the brain development and functions both pre and post natal. The increased prevalence of autism will have enormous future public implications and has stimulated intense research into potential etiologic factors. This study aims to establish a connection between autism and the deterioration accompanied it, especially in the brain cognitive areas through a postulation of energy manipulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The biochemical changes in activities of enzymes and pathways that participate in the production of ATP as the most important high-energy compound needed by the human brain were measured in Saudi autistic children. Na(+)/K(+)ATPase, ectonucleotidases (NTPDases) (ADPase and ATPase) and creatine kinase (CK), were assessed in plasma of 30 Saudi autistic patients and compared to 30 age-matching control samples. In addition, adenosine mono, di and trinucleotides (ATP, ADP, and AMP) were measured calorimetrically in the red blood cells of both groups and the adenylate energy charge (AEC) was calculated. Moreover, lactate concentration in plasma of both groups was monitored.

RESULTS

The obtained data recorded 148.77% and 72.35% higher activities of Na(+)/K(+)ATPase and CK respectively in autistic patients which prove the impairment of energy metabolism in these children compared to age and sex matching healthy controls. While ADPase was significantly higher in autistic patients, ATPase were non-significantly elevated compared to control. In spite of the significant increase of Na(+)/K(+)ATPase activity in autistic patients, there was no significant difference in the levels of ATP, ADP, and AMP in both groups and the calculated AEC values were 0.814+/-0.094 and 0.806+/-0.081 for autistic and control groups respectively. The unchanged AEC value in autistic patients was easily correlated with the induced activity of CK and ADPase as two enzymes playing a critical role in the stabilization of AEC. Lactate as an important energy metabolite for the brain was significantly higher in autistic patients compared to control showing about 40% increase.

CONCLUSION

The present study confirmed the impairment of energy metabolism in Saudi autistic patients which could be correlated to the oxidative stress previously recorded in the same investigated samples. The identification of biochemical markers related to autism would be advantageous for earlier clinical diagnosis and intervention.

Dopamine D3 receptor-preferring agonists increase dendrite arborization of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons via extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation

Clinical improvements in Parkinson's disease produced by dopamine D3 receptor-preferring agonists have been related to their neuroprotective actions and, more recently, to their neuroregenerative properties. However, it is unclear whether dopamine agonists produce their neurotrophic effects by acting directly on receptors expressed by the mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons or indirectly on receptors expressed by astrocytes, via release of neurotrophic factors. In this study, we investigated the effects of the dopamine D3 receptor-preferring agonists quinpirole and 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-propyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT), as well as of the indirect agonist amphetamine, on dopaminergic neurons identified by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-IR). Experiments were performed on neuronal-enriched primary cultures containing less than 0.5% of astrocytes prepared from the mouse embryo mesencephalon. After 3 days of incubation, both quinpirole (1-10 microm) and 7-OH-DPAT (5-500 nm) dose-dependently increased the maximal dendrite length (P < 0.001), number of primary dendrites (P < 0.01) and [3H]dopamine uptake (P < 0.01) of TH-IR-positive mesencephalic neurons. Similar effects were observed with 10 microm amphetamine. All neurotrophic effects were blocked by the unselective D2/D3 receptor antagonist sulpiride (5 microm) and by the selective D3 receptor antagonist SB-277011-A at a low dose (50 nm). Quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT also increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) within minutes, an effect blocked by pretreatment with SB-277011-A. Inhibition of the D2/D3 receptor signalling pathway to ERK was obtained with PD98059, GF109203 or LY294002, resulting in blockade of neurotrophic effects. These data suggest that dopamine agonists increase dendritic arborizations of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons via a direct effect on D2/D3 receptors, preferentially involving D3 receptor-dependent neurotransmission.

Neuronismo y reticulismo: neuronal-glial circuits unify the reticular and neuronal theories of brain organization

The neuronal doctrine, which shaped the development of neuroscience, was born from a long-lasting struggle between reticularists, who assumed internal continuity of neural networks and neuronists, who defined the brain as a network of physically separated cellular entities, defined as neurones. Modern views regard the brain as a complex of constantly interacting cellular circuits, represented by neuronal networks embedded into internally connected astroglial syncytium. The neuronal-glial circuits endowed with distinct signalling cascades form a 'diffuse nervous net' suggested by Golgi, where millions of synapses belonging to very different neurones are integrated first into neuronal-glial-vascular units and then into more complex structures connected through glial syncytium. These many levels of integration, both morphological and functional, presented by neuronal-glial circuitry ensure the spatial and temporal multiplication of brain cognitive power.

Quantification of D1 and D5 dopamine receptor localization in layers I, III, and V of Macaca mulatta prefrontal cortical area 9: coexpression in dendritic spines and axon terminals

D1 family receptors (D1R) in prefrontal cortex (PFC) are critical for normal cognition and are implicated in pathological states such as schizophrenia. The two D1R subtypes, D1 and D5, cannot be pharmacologically distinguished but have important functional differences. To understand their contributions to cortical function, we quantified their localization in the neuropil of primate PFC. We identified different patterns of distribution for the two receptors that showed variation across cortical laminae. Although D1 was enriched in spines and D5 in dendrites, there was considerable overlap in their distribution within neuronal compartments. To determine whether the D1 and D5 receptors are localized to separate populations of synapses, we employed double-labeling methods. We found the two receptors colocalized and quantified the overlap of their distribution in spines and axon terminals of prefrontal cortical area 9 in the Macaca mulatta monkey. The two receptors are found in partially overlapping populations, such that the D5 receptor is found in a subpopulation of those spines and terminals that contain D1. These results indicate that dopamine activation of the two D1R subtypes does not modulate disparate populations of synapses onto dendritic spines in prefrontal cortical area 9; rather, dopamine can activate D1 and D5 receptors on the same spines, plus an additional group of spines that contains only D1. The implications of these results for the dose-dependent relationship between D1R activation and PFC function are discussed.

Regulation of D1 dopamine receptor trafficking and signaling by caveolin-1

There is accumulating evidence that G protein-coupled receptor signaling is regulated by localization in lipid raft microdomains. In this report, we determined that the D1 dopamine receptor (D1R) is localized in caveolae, a subset of lipid rafts, by sucrose gradient fractionation and confocal microscopy. Through coimmunoprecipitation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assays, we demonstrated that this localization was mediated by an interaction between caveolin-1 and D1R in COS-7 cells and an isoform-selective interaction between D1R and caveolin-1alpha in rat brain. We determined that the D1R interaction with caveolin-1 required a putative caveolin binding motif identified in transmembrane domain 7. Agonist stimulation of D1R caused translocation of D1R into caveolin-1-enriched sucrose fractions, which was determined to be a result of D1R endocytosis through caveolae. This was found to be protein kinase A-independent and a kinetically slower process than clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Site-directed mutagenesis of the caveolin binding motif at amino acids Phe313 and Trp318 significantly attenuated caveolar endocytosis of D1R. We also found that these caveolin binding mutants had a diminished capacity to stimulate cAMP production, which was determined to be due to constitutive desensitization of these receptors. In contrast, we found that D1Rs had an enhanced ability to maximally generate cAMP in chemically induced caveolae-disrupted cells. Taken together, these data suggest that caveolae has an important role in regulating D1R turnover and signaling in brain.

Dopamine release modifies intracellular calcium levels in tyrosine hydroxylase-transfected C6 cells

Glioma cell line C6, transfected with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) cDNA under the control of the glial fibrillary acid protein promoter (C6-THA cells), elicited a reduction in the apomorphine-induced turning behavior when they are implanted in Parkinson's disease models. Nevertheless, dopamine (Da) release has not been explicitly demonstrated nor has a possible mechanism of release been implicated. In this study, the in vitro Da release by C6 and C6-THA cells after chemical stimulation with KCl or glutamate was quantified using HPLC. Modifications in intracellular calcium levels in response to KCl stimulation and participation of Da receptor-mediated feedback in calcium regulation were also studied using FLUO 3 as a calcium concentration indicator. C6-THA cells release dopamine in basal conditions, and increase its release after KCl or glutamic acid stimulation. In a fraction of C6 and C6-THA cells, a transient intracellular calcium increase was observed after KCl stimulation, but C6-THA cells demonstrated a faster rate of calcium removal. C6 cells express mRNA from all five subtypes of Da receptors as demonstrated by real time PCR. D1 receptors were most abundant in C6 cells and its expression was further increased in C6-THA cells. Blocking D1-like receptors in C6-THA cells with the specific antagonist drug SCH-23390 induced a decrease in intracellular calcium removal rate, resembling non-manipulated C6 cells' calcium clearance. Da release by C6-THA cells could be related to calcium dependent mechanisms. Furthermore, production of Da by C6-THA cells seems to upregulate the expression of D1 receptors' mRNA.

In vivo evidence of D3 dopamine receptor sensitization in parkinsonian primates and rodents with l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias

A growing body of evidence indicates a role for D(3) receptors in l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. This involvement could be amenable to non-invasive in vivo analysis using functional neuroimaging. With this goal, we examined the hemodynamic response to the dopamine D(3)-preferring agonist 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2 aminotetralin (7-OHDPAT) in naïve, parkinsonian and l-DOPA-treated, dyskinetic rodents and primates using pharmacological MRI (phMRI) and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) mapping. Administration of 7-OHDPAT induced minor negative changes of rCBV in the basal ganglia in naïve and parkinsonian animals. Remarkably, the hemodynamic response was reversed (increased rCBV) in the striatum of parkinsonian animals rendered dyskinetic by repeated l-DOPA treatment. Such increase in rCBV is consistent with D(1) receptor-like signaling occurring in response to D(3) stimulation, demonstrates a dysregulation of dopamine receptor function in dyskinesia and provides a potentially novel means for the characterization and treatment of l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in patients.

Presence of D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors in the rat, mouse and bovine multiciliated ependyma

The multiciliated ependyma forms an epithelial-like layer that could act as a selective barrier between the brain parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid. In the present study, tyrosine hydroxylase-containing fibres have been detected in the basal pole of the ependymal cells of the lateral ventricles of rat, mouse and calf. The use of antibodies against at least two different peptide sequences of each D(2), D(3), D(4) and D(5) dopamine receptor subtype has allowed their detection in: (i) sections of mouse, rat and bovine lateral ventricles, by means of immunocytochemistry; and (ii) membrane protein extracts obtained from the ependymal layer of the bovine lateral ventricles, using immunoblotting. The immunocytochemical study has shown the presence of all these subtypes of dopamine receptors in the ependymal cells. Immunoblotting demonstrated similar immunoreactive bands for all receptor subtypes in both ependymal and corpus striatum membrane extracts.

The anatomy of co-morbid neuropsychiatric disorders based on cortico-limbic synaptic interactions

Many brain disorders appear to involve dysfunctions of aminergic systems. Alterations in dopamine activity may underpin both schizophrenia and the establishment and maintenance of drug dependence while disruption of serotonergic signalling may be crucial in both depression and schizophrenia. The co-existence of nicotine and alcohol abuse with depression and schizophrenia is well-documented as is the particular vulnerability of adolescents. At the same time, a common group of brain structures is increasingly implicated in neuropathological studies. For example, depression may involve a lack of serotonin signalling, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, while in schizophrenia there is evidence for reduced dopamine signalling in the same brain region, co-existing with hyperactivity in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. Increased dopamine release from the mesolimbic dopamine pathway is also a common factor of drugs of abuse. Furthermore, the control of motivational behaviour and dopamine release is apparently modified by hippocampal and amygdala activity, both brain regions showing pathological changes in schizophrenia and depression. Our work has focused on the intricate synaptic interactions of aminergic terminals and cortical and subcortical neurons in order to unravel the anatomical basis for these disorders and their treatments. We show convergence of dopamine and cortical inputs onto single neurons in the nucleus accumbens, and between different cortical inputs to individual neurons, providing a basis for the gating mechanisms attributed to these interactions. We have also examined local and extrinsic connections in the prefrontal cortex and the basis for regulation of both cortical neurons and midbrain dopamine neurons by serotonin from the raph é nucleus. Together with data concerning subcellular receptor distributions, this information provides a detailed synaptic framework for interpreting behavioural, pharmacological and physiological data and enhances our understanding of possible circuitry underlying comorbidity of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression with drug abuse, information invaluable in the introduction of enhanced therapies.