Cytoarchitectural distribution of calcium binding proteins in midbrain dopaminergic regions of rats and humans

Neurochemical organization of the human basal ganglia: anatomofunctional territories defined by the distributions of calcium-binding proteins and SMI-32

The distribution of the calcium-binding proteins calbindin-D28K (CB), parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR), and of the nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (with SMI-32) was investigated in the human basal ganglia to identify anatomofunctional territories. In the striatum, gradients of neuropil immunostaining define four major territories: The first (T1) includes all but the rostroventral half of the putamen and is characterized by enhanced matriceal PV and SMI-32 immunoreactivity (-ir). The second territory (T2) encompasses most part of the caudate nucleus (Cd) and rostral putamen (PuT), which show enhanced matriceal CB-ir. The third and fourth territories (T3 and T4) comprise rostroventral parts of Cd and PuT characterized by complementary patch/matrix distributions of CB- and CR-ir, and the accumbens nucleus (Acb), respectively. The latter is separated into lateral (prominently enhanced in CB-ir) and medial (prominently enhanced in CR-ir) subdivisions. In the pallidum, parallel gradients also delimit four territories, T1 in the caudal half of external (GPe) and internal (GPi) divisions, characterized by enhanced PV- and SMI-32-ir; T2 in their rostral half, characterized by enhanced CB-ir; and T3 and T4 in their rostroventral pole and in the subpallidal area, respectively, both expressing CB- and CR-ir but with different intensities. The subthalamic nucleus (STh) shows contrasting patterns of dense PV-ir (sparing only the most medial part) and low CB-ir. Expression of CR-ir is relatively low, except in the medial, low PV-ir, part of the nucleus, whereas SMI-32-ir is moderate across the whole nucleus. The substantia nigra is characterized by complementary patterns of high neuropil CB- and SMI-32-ir in pars reticulata (SNr) and high CR-ir in pars compacta (SNc) and in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The compartmentalization of calcium-binding proteins and SMI-32 in the human basal ganglia, in particular in the striatum and pallidum, delimits anatomofunctional territories that are of significance for functional imaging studies and target selection in stereotactic neurosurgery.

GFRalpha-1 mRNA in dopaminergic and nondopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a survival factor for several types of neurons, including dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons. GDNF binds with high affinity to the GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRalpha-1), which is highly expressed in the midbrain. Using anatomical and lesion techniques, we demonstrated that GFRalpha-1 was expressed in DAergic and non-DAergic neurons in the rat midbrain. Immunohistochemical characterization of GFRalpha-1-expressing neurons indicated that most of the neurons that were immunopositive for the DAergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expressed GFRalpha-1 in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC). In contrast, fewer TH-containing neurons expressed GFRalpha-1 in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Depletion of GFRalpha-1/TH neurons was observed in the SNC following treatment with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA); however, GFRalpha-1 expression remained in some neurons located in the SNR. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic nature of GFRalpha-1-expressing neurons located in the SNR, which were resistant to (6-hydroxydopamine) 6-OHDA, was established by their expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD; the synthesizing enzyme for GABA). Further analysis indicated that coexpression of GFRalpha-1 and GAD varied in a rostrocaudal gradient in the SNR, substantia nigra pars lateralis (SNL), and VTA. Midbrain DAergic and GABAergic neurons have been previously classified according to their Ca(2+) binding protein (CaBP) content; thus, we also sought to investigate the proportion of midbrain GFRalpha-1-expressing neurons containing parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR) in the midbrain. Although GFRalpha-1 expression was found mainly in CB- and CR-immunoreactive neurons, it was rarely observed in PV-immunolabeled neurons. Analysis of the proportion of GFRalpha-1-expressing neurons for each CaBP subpopulation indicated the coexistence of GFRalpha-1 with CR in the VTA and all subdivisions of the SN; double-labeled GFRalpha-1/CR neurons were distributed in the SNC, SNR, SNL, and VTA. GFRalpha-1/CB neurons were also detected in the SNC, SNL, and VTA. Expression of GFRalpha-1 in DAergic and non-DAergic neurons in the rat SN and VTA suggests that GDNF, via GFRalpha-1, might modulate DAergic and GABAergic functions in the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and nigrothalamic circuits of the adult rat.

The deep mesencephalic nucleus as an output center of basal ganglia: morphological and electrophysiological similarities with the substantia nigra

The deep mesencephalic nucleus (DMN) is a large midbrain reticular region between the superior colliculus, the substantia nigra compacta, the periaqueductal gray, and the medial geniculate body. Although some data suggest that it is involved in nociception and visceral control, its functions remain unclear. In the present study, by using morphological (combination of anterograde and retrograde tracers with immunocytochemistry and in situ hibrydization) and electrophysiological (firing activity and transynaptic response to striatal stimulation) methods, we show that a subpopulation of DMN cells shares many morphological and electrophysiological characteristics with those of the substantia nigra reticulata (SNR). These similarities include the following: 1) firing rate, firing pattern, and conduction velocity; 2) expression of GAD65, GAD67, and PV; 3) excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the striatum; and 4) projections to the ventral thalamus, superior colliculus, and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Some differences were also found. In comparison with SN, DMN cells and striatal afferents are more sparsely distributed and they show conspicuous contralateral projections to the thalamus and superior colliculus. This suggests that, similarly to the SNR, the DMN acts as an output center of basal ganglia and probably facilitates the inter-hemispheric regulation of these centers.

Dopamine cell degeneration induced by intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine in the rat: similarities with cell loss in parkinson's disease

In an attempt to find a convenient rat model to study cell vulnerability in Parkinson's disease, we have investigated the cell-loss profile in different midbrain dopaminergic nuclei and subnuclei of rats injected with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the third ventricle. Following administration of different doses (5-1000 microgram) of 6-OHDA, motor behavior was evaluated and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunostained neurons were counted in the A8 group and different subdivisions of A9 and A10 groups. Animals developed hypokinesia, repetitive chewing movements, and catalepsia. Signs of cell degeneration were evident from the first day after injection, reaching the definitive pattern at the end of the first week. There was a similar degeneration in both brain sides, the A9 group showing the highest degree of cell-loss, followed by A8 and A10 groups. In the A9 group, the degeneration mostly affected those subgroups located in its ventral, lateral, and posterior regions. In the A10 group the degeneration mainly affected the parabrachial pigmented nucleus, the paranigral nucleus and the ventral tegmental area. This topographic pattern of degeneration is very similar to that previously described in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that this model may be a useful tool in the study of the cell vulnerability mechanisms in this neurodegenerative disorder. In addition, our results also showed that small dopaminergic neurons are more resistant to degeneration than the large ones. In some DA subgroups, the cells that contained calbindin but not calretinin were less vulnerable to the neurotoxic effect of 6-OHDA.

Structure of longitudinal brain zones that provide the origin for the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area in human embryos, as revealed by cytoarchitecture and tyrosine hydroxylase, calretinin, calbindin, and GABA immunoreactions

In a previous work, mapping early tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expressing primordia in human embryos, the tegmental origin of the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) was located across several neuromeric domains: prosomeres 1-3, midbrain, and isthmus (Puelles and Verney, [1998] J. Comp. Neurol. 394:283-308). The present study examines in detail the architecture of the neural wall along this tegmental continuum in 6-7 week human embryos, to better define the development of the SN and VTA. TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) structures were mapped relative to longitudinal subdivisions (floor plate, basal plate, alar plate), as well as to radially superposed strata of the neural wall (periventricular, intermediate, and superficial strata). These morphologic entities were delineated at each relevant segmental level by using Nissl-stained sections and immunocytochemical mapping of calbindin, calretinin, and GABA in adjacent sagittal or frontal sections. A numerous and varied neuronal population originates in the floor plate area, and some of its derivatives become related through lateral tangential migration with other neuronal populations born in distinct medial and lateral portions of the basal plate and in a transition zone at the border with the alar plate. Some structural differences characterize each segmental domain within this common schema. The TH-IR neuroblasts arise predominantly within the ventricular zone of the floor plate and, more sparsely, within the adjacent medial part of the basal plate. They first migrate radially from the ventricular zone to the pia and then apparently move laterally and slightly rostralward, crossing the superficial stratum of the basal plate. Several GABA-IR cell populations are present in this region. One of them, which might represent the anlage of the SN pars reticulata, is generated in the lateral part of the basal plate.

Expression of calbindin D28K in the dopaminergic mesotelencephalic system in embryonic and fetal human brain

A subset of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) neurons of the substantia nigra (A9) containing calbindin D28K (CaBP) appeared to be less vulnerable to cell death induced by Parkinson's disease than the subset containing dopamine (DA) alone. Because grafting procedures of fetal human neurons are increasingly used in the therapy of Parkinson's disease, it is important to study the development of DA neurons coexpressing CaBP. In humans, the genesis of TH immunoreactivity of A9, of the ventral tegmental area (A10), and of the retrorubral area (A8) occurred during a 2-week period from the 4. 5th gestational week (g.w.) in the ventricular zone of the floor plate and the contiguous basal plate of the mesencephalon and diencephalon, i.e., the prosomeres p1-p3. Double-immunolabeled TH-CaBP neurons were detected from 5.5 g.w. on, in the first wave of DA neuron's migration, and were observed in their final residence in the dorsal A9 by 10.5 g.w. Calretinin immunoreactivity was expressed in TH-immunoreactive (IR) neurons from 10.5 g.w. on. Ascending TH-CaBP-IR axons were observed toward the telencephalon from 6-7 g.w. , reaching the anlage of the nucleus accumbens and amygdaloid complex at 10.5 g.w., but were not detected in the ganglionic eminence at this latter stage. Dopaminergic patches were detected at 13 g.w. in the anlage of the putamen, but no TH-CaBP-IR fibers were observed in the matrix at this stage. In conclusion, even if CaBP immunoreactivity was detected in TH-IR cell bodies during the embryonic period, the TH-CaBP-IR axonal terminal was observed earlier in some limbic-related areas than in the matrix compartment of the basal ganglia in humans.

Dopaminergic innervation of the subthalamic nucleus in the normal state, in MPTP-treated monkeys, and in Parkinson's disease patients

The existence of a dopaminergic innervation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been demonstrated in rats but has remained controversial in primates. The aim of the present study was first to demonstrate the existence of a dopaminergic innervation of the STN in monkeys using tracing methods and then to quantify the loss of dopaminergic fibers in the parkinsonian state in monkeys and humans. Following injection of Fluoro-Gold into the STN of a vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops), retrogradely labeled neurons were found to be scattered in all dopaminergic areas of the mesencephalon. Injection of biotin dextran amine into dopaminergic areas A8 and A9 of two monkeys resulted in anterogradely labeled axons located throughout the whole extent of the STN. Labeled axons that also expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were reconstructed from serial sections. Some terminal axonal arborizations had profuse branching and occupied much of the STN, and others were restricted to small portions of the nucleus. In TH-immunoreactive sections, numerous sparse, fine, and varicose TH-positive fibers were observed in the STN of normal monkeys and humans. Quantification of these TH-positive fibers revealed a 51% loss of TH-positive fibers in MPTP-intoxicated monkeys and a 65% loss in Parkinson's disease patients compared with their respective controls. These findings demonstrate the existence of a dopaminergic innervation of the STN in primates. The loss of dopaminergic innervation in MPTP-intoxicated monkeys and in Parkinson's disease patients may directly affect the activity of STN neurons and could participate in the hyperactivity of the structure.

Catecholamine systems in the brain of vertebrates: new perspectives through a comparative approach

A comparative analysis of catecholaminergic systems in the brain and spinal cord of vertebrates forces to reconsider several aspects of the organization of catecholamine systems. Evidence has been provided for the existence of extensive, putatively catecholaminergic cell groups in the spinal cord, the pretectum, the habenular region, and cortical and subcortical telencephalic areas. Moreover, putatively dopamine- and noradrenaline-accumulating cells have been demonstrated in the hypothalamic periventricular organ of almost every non-mammalian vertebrate studied. In contrast with the classical idea that the evolution of catecholamine systems is marked by an increase in complexity going from anamniotes to amniotes, it is now evident that the brains of anamniotes contain catecholaminergic cell groups, of which the counterparts in amniotes have lost the capacity to produce catecholamines. Moreover, a segmental approach in studying the organization of catecholaminergic systems is advocated. Such an approach has recently led to the conclusion that the chemoarchitecture and connections of the basal ganglia of anamniote and amniote tetrapods are largely comparable. This review has also brought together data about the distribution of receptors and catecholaminergic fibers as well as data about developmental aspects. From these data it has become clear that there is a good match between catecholaminergic fibers and receptors, but, at many places, volume transmission seems to play an important role. Finally, although the available data are still limited, striking differences are observed in the spatiotemporal sequence of appearance of catecholaminergic cell groups, in particular those in the retina and olfactory bulb.

Recovery from methamphetamine induced long-term nigrostriatal dopaminergic deficits without substantia nigra cell loss

After administration of methamphetamine (METH) (2x2 mg/kg, 6 h apart) to vervet monkeys, long term but reversible dopaminergic deficits were observed in both in vivo and post-mortem studies. Longitudinal studies using positron emission tomography (PET) with the dopamine transporter (DAT)-binding ligand, [11C]WIN 35,428 (WIN), were used to show decreases in striatal WIN binding of 80% at 1 week and only 10% at 1.5 years. A post-mortem characterization of other METH subjects at 1 month showed extensive decreases in immunoreactivity (IR) profiles of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DAT and vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT) in the striatum, medial forebrain bundle and the ventral midbrain dopamine (VMD) cell region. These IR deficits were not associated with a loss of VMD cell number when assessed at 1.5 years by stereological methods. Further, at 1.5 years, IR profiles of METH subjects throughout the nigrostriatal dopamine system appeared similar to controls although some regional deficits persisted. Collectively, the magnitude and extent of the dopaminergic deficits, and the subsequent recovery were not suggestive of extensive axonal degeneration followed by regeneration. Alternatively, this apparent reversibility of the METH-induced neuroadaptations may be related primarily to long-term decreases in expression of VMD-related proteins that recover over time.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor stimulates the morphological differentiation of cultured ventral mesencephalic calbindin- and calretinin-expressing neurons

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent neurotrophic factor for mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Subpopulations of these neurons express the calcium-binding proteins calbindin (CB) and calretinin (CR). Understanding the specific effects of GDNF on these neurons is important for the development of an optimal cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease. To investigate the effects of GDNF on the morphological complexity of mesencephalic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (-ir), CB-ir, and CR-ir neurons, dissociated cultures of embryonic (E14) rat ventral mesencephalon were prepared. Chronic administration of GDNF (10 ng/ml) for 7 days promoted the survival of TH-ir and CB-ir neurons but did not alter the density of CR-ir neurons. Total fiber length/neuron and number of branching points/neuron of CB-ir and CR-ir cells were significantly increased after GDNF treatment (2x for CB-ir cells and 1.4x and 1.7x, respectively, for CR-ir cells), which resulted in a significantly larger size of neurite field/neuron (2.9x and 1.5x for CB-ir and CR-ir neurons, respectively). The number of primary neurites/neuron of CB-ir neurons was found to be 1.5x larger, while no difference could be detected for CR-ir cells. Assessment of the effects of GDNF on TH-ir neurons unveiled a similar outcome with an increased total fiber length/neuron (1.5x), an increased number of primary neurites/neuron (1.6x), and a twofold larger size of neurite field/neuron. In conclusion, our findings recognize GDNF as a neurotrophic factor that stimulates the morphological differentiation of ventral mesencephalic CB-ir and CR-ir neurons.

On the altered expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and calbindin-D 28kD immunoreactivities and viability of neurons in the ventral tegmental area of Tsai following injections of 6-hydroxydopamine in the medial forebrain bundle in the rat

Calbindin-D 28kD is a calcium binding protein reported to protect neurons from degeneration by buffering intracellular calcium. It is expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurons reported to be relatively resistant to degeneration in Parkinson's disease and certain of its animal models. Lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway produced in rats following injection of 6-hydroxydopamine result in a neurochemical profile similar to that seen in patients with Parkinson's disease. In the present study, brains were processed to exhibit tyrosine hydroxylase- and calbindin-D 28kD immunoreactivities in sections through the ventral mesencephalon at 3, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after 6-hydroxydopamine had been injected into the medial forebrain bundle. Numbers of ventral mesencephalic calbindin-D 28kD immunoreactive neurons were significantly reduced ipsilateral to the lesions at 3 days post-lesion and, following slight recovery, remained significantly depleted through post-lesion day 21. The densities of calbindin-D 28kD and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons were different only at the 3 day post-lesion time point, when the apparent loss of calbindin-D 28 kD immunoreactive profiles was significantly greater. A lesion-induced increase in the proportion of neurons exhibiting both calbindin-D 28kD and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities, expected if calbindin-D 28kD is neuroprotective, was observed in the substantia nigra, pars compacta, but not in the ventral tegmental area. It is concluded that, while the observed losses of tyrosine hydroxylase and calbindin-D 28kD immunoreactivities do not necessarily reflect neuronal degeneration, they are not consistent with CB confering a neuroprotective advantage in the ventral tegmental area following 6-OHDA lesions as administered in this study.

Up-regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in a sub-population of A10 dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease

Neuronal injury has been consistently found in A10 midbrain dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). To assess changes in neurotransmitter-related gene transcription, in these neurons in PD, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA expression was examined in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of seven PD cases and seven control subjects, using in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). In controls, TH mRNA expression was found in both melanised and non-melanised neurons in the VTA. Neither population expressed dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Of the melanised neurons, 99% were TH mRNA positive. The level of the TH mRNA signal (expressed as grain density per cell) was similar in the two populations (melanised: 0.129+/-0.004 (mean+/-S.E.M.), n=142 vs. non-melanised: 0.138+/-0.006, n=89, P>0.05, Student's t-Test). In PD cases there was no significant change in TH mRNA expression in melanised neurons (0.138+/-0.003, n=196), and the proportion of positively labeled melanised neurons was 98%. However, non-melanised neurons showed significantly higher TH mRNA (0.163+/-0.006, n=87) than non-melanised neurons in control subjects (P<0.005) and melanised neurons in the PD cases (P<0.0005). This up-regulation of TH mRNA expression in non-melanised neurons may suggest the existence of a compensatory mechanism at presynaptic level.

The connections of the dopaminergic system with the striatum in rats and primates: an analysis with respect to the functional and compartmental organization of the striatum

This Commentary compares the connections of the dopaminergic system with the striatum in rats and primates with respect to two levels of striatal organization: a tripartite functional (motor, associative and limbic) subdivision and a compartmental (patch/striosome-matrix) subdivision. The topography of other basal ganglia projections to the dopaminergic system with respect to their tripartite functional subdivision is also reviewed. This examination indicates that, in rats and primates, the following observations can be made. (1) The limbic striatum reciprocates its dopaminergic input and in addition innervates most of the dopaminergic neurons projecting to the associative and motor striatum, whereas the motor and associative striatum reciprocate only part of their dopaminergic input. Therefore, the connections of the three striatal subregions with the dopaminergic system are asymmetrical, but the direction of asymmetry differs between the limbic versus the motor and associative striatum. (2) The limbic striatum provides the main striatal input to dopamine cell bodies and proximal dendrites, with some contribution from a subset of neurons in the associative and motor striatum (patch neurons in rats; an unspecified group of neurons in primates), while striatal input to the ventrally extending dopamine dendrites arises mainly from a subset of neurons in the associative and motor striatum (matrix neurons in rats; an unspecified group of neurons in primates). (3) Projections from functionally corresponding subdivisions of the striatum, pallidum and subthalamic nucleus to the dopaminergic system overlap, but the specific targets (dopamine cells, dopamine dendrites, GABA cells) of these projections differ. Major differences include the following. (1) In rats, neurons projecting to the motor and associative striatum reside in distinct regions, while in primates they are arranged in interdigitating clusters. (2) In rats, the terminal fields of projections arising from the motor and associative striatum are largely segregated, while in primates they are not. (3) In rats, patch- and matrix-projecting dopamine cells are organized in spatially, morphologically, histochemically and hodologically distinct ventral and dorsal tiers, while in primates there is no (bi)division of the dopaminergic system that results in two areas which have all the characteristics of the two tiers in rats. Based on the anatomical data and known dopamine cell physiology, we forward an hypothesis regarding the influence of the basal ganglia on dopamine cell activity which captures at least part of the complex interplay taking place within the substantia nigra between projections arising from the different basal ganglia nuclei. Finally, we incorporate the striatal connections with the dopaminergic system into an open-interconnected scheme of basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuitry.

Relative sparing of calretinin containing neurons in the substantia nigra of 6-OHDA treated rat parkinsonian model

A certain calcium binding protein (CaBP) has been known to exert a neuroprotective effect in various neurodegenerative diseases. Using the 6-OHDA induced rat Parkinsonian model, we examined if calretinin (CR), one of CaBP family, could play the similar role in the Parkinson's disease because CR is profusely localized in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPC) of the rat. Employing immunohistochemical analyses, we found that the survival rate of CR neurons was significantly higher than that of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons in the SNPC of the Parkinsonian rat. Furthermore double-labeled fluorescent microscopy revealed that almost all surviving TH neurons were also positive to CR. Our data suggest that CR-positive neurons are less vulnerable to 6-OHDA and CR in the dopaminergic neurons may have a protective function for survival of these neurons in the experimentally induced Parkinsonian rat.

Cellular expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in subpopulations of neurons in the rat substantia nigra pars reticulata

In order to characterize the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor immunoreactivity in subpopulations of neurons in the rat substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), double labeling experiments were performed. Neurons in the reticulata were found to display GluR1, GluR2, GluR2/3, GluR4, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1) and NMDAR2B immunoreactivity. Some of the reticulata neurons were shown to display GluR1 and GluR2 immunoreactivity or GluR2 and GluR4 immunoreactivity at the single cell level. In addition, subpopulations of reticulata neurons were characterized on the basis of the strong expression of parvalbumin (PV) and GABA transaminase immunoreactivity. All of the reticulata neurons that displayed strong immunoreactivity for PV or GABA transaminase also displayed immunoreactivity for GluR1, GluR2/3, GluR4, NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B. A tiny portion (around 15%) of reticulata neurons that display NMDAR1 immunoreactivity was found to be PV- or GABA-transaminase-negative. The present results indicate that native alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA)-type receptors and NMDA-type receptors in the rat substantia nigra are composed of heteromeric receptor subunits. The present findings further demonstrate that most of the AMPA-type and NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunits are primarily expressed by subpopulations of neurons in the rat SNr.

Calretinin and calbindin-D28k in dopaminergic neurons of the rat midbrain: a triple-labeling immunohistochemical study

We used triple-labeling immunohistochemistry in rat midbrain sections to identify dopaminergic neurons that contain either one or both of the calcium-binding proteins, calretinin (CR) and calbindin-D28k (CB). Midbrain dopaminergic neurons were immunohistochemically labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), CR, and CB. In the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC), TH+/CR+/CB+ cells were clustered in two regions: the dorsal tier of the rostral SNC and the medial part of the intermediate SNC. The ventral tier of the rostral SNC mainly comprised both TH+/CR+/CB- and TH+/CR-/CB- cells. The lateral part of the intermediate SNC and the caudal SNC primarily consisted of TH+/CR-/CB- cells. Throughout the extent of the SNC, approximately half of the TH+ neurons were stained for neither CR nor CB, while the remaining TH+ populations were labeled for CR and/or CB. Throughout the ventral tegmental area, TH+/CR+/CB+ cells, TH+/CR+/CB- cells, TH+/CR-/CB+ cells, and TH+/CR-/CB- cells were found generally scattered, though the TH+/CR-/CB- cells were dominant in number. In the substantia nigra pars lateralis, interfascicular nucleus, and caudal linear nucleus, more than half of the TH+ cells were stained for both CR and CB. In the retrorubral field, two-thirds of the TH+ neurons contained neither protein. The present findings suggest that the SNC can be divided into subcompartments based on the distribution of dopaminergic neurons that contain calcium-binding proteins. Furthermore, because CR and CB likely contribute to calcium homeostasis by buffering intracellular calcium concentrations, midbrain dopaminergic neurons containing one or both of these calcium-binding proteins may have a higher calcium-buffering capacity than those lacking the two proteins.

Calbindin-D 28kD immunofluorescence in ventral mesencephalic neurons labeled following injections of Fluoro-Gold in nucleus accumbens subterritories: inverse relationship relative to known neurotoxin vulnerabilities

The shell and core of the nucleus accumbens exhibit different vulnerabilities to neurotoxins. Calcium binding proteins are reported to offer some neuroprotection against excitotoxicity by suppressing or buffering intracellular calcium. Differences in the distributions of the calbindin-D 28kD (CB) and calretinin (CR) might be related to the different vulnerabilities to neurotoxins of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon that project to the core and medial shell of the nucleus accumbens. To address this possibility, Fluoro-Gold (FG) was injected into accumbens subterritories and numbers of retrogradely labeled neurons in the ventral tegmental area containing CB and CR immunoreactivities (ir) were expressed as a percentage of total numbers of labeled neurons. The perikaryal diameters and lengths of the immunoreactive dendrites of FG labeled neurons were also measured. About 70% and 35% of retrogradely labeled cells observed following core and medial shell injections, respectively, exhibited CB immunoreactivity. Differences were not observed in the percentages of FG labeled cells exhibiting CR immunoreactivity following medial shell (13%) and core (15%) injections. The mean perikaryal diameters and median summed lengths of dendrites of retrogradely labeled neurons containing CB were smaller than in labeled neurons lacking CB following injections in both core and medial shell of the nucleus accumbens. The data indicate that the different 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) vulnerabilities of ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons are not obviously related to the presence of CB and CR.

Distribution of the catecholaminergic neurons in the central nervous system of human embryos and fetuses

The catecholaminergic cell groups in the human brain, denominated from A1 to A17, display some striking anatomical differences with those described in the rodent. These differences are essentially observed in the extent of the dopaminergic neurons and especially their axonal fields in the telencephalon. Immunocytochemistry for tyrosine-hydroxylase and dopamine-ss-hydroxylase allowed the visualization of the precocious human catecholaminergic groups as early as 4.5 postovulatory weeks. Maps of tyrosine-hydroxylase positive neurons generated in the different rhombomeres, midbrain, and prosomeres are shown following the prosomeric model introduced by Puelles and Rubenstein [(1993) Trends Neurosci. 16:472-476]. Such a description is convenient to compare catecholaminergic systems in different mammalian species and provide clear anatomical landmarks of the embryonic substantia nigra (midbrain and prosomeres 1 and 2), that are necessary for transplantation of neural tissue in Parkinson's disease. The development and early specification of the dopaminergic neurons expressing calbindin D28K phenotype in the substantia nigra and in the ventral tegmental area are described. The catecholaminergic axons enter the anlage of the cerebral cortex just after the formation of the cortical plate, from 7 postovulatory weeks on. They invade the subplate layer where they wait for 4 weeks before penetrating the cortical plate. At midgestation, the different areas and layers of the frontal cerebral wall are invaded by the catecholaminergic axons, before the layering of the cortex is completed, in a pattern of fiber distribution similar to that described in the adult human brain. The early pattern of development of the catecholamine systems appeared to be phylogenetically well preserved in mammals, but specific features emerging during the differentiation period are unique to humans.

Electrophysiological and morphological evidence for a GABAergic nigrostriatal pathway

The electrophysiological and neurochemical characteristics of the nondopaminergic nigrostriatal (NO-DA) cells and their functional response to the degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal (DA) cells were studied. Three different criteria were used to identify NO-DA cells: (1) antidromic response to striatal stimulation with an electrophysiological behavior (firing rate, interspike interval variability, and conduction velocity) different from that of DA cells; (2) retrograde labeling after striatal injection of HRP but showing immunonegativity for DA cell markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, calretinin, calbindin-D28k, and cholecystokinin); and (3) resistance to neurotoxic effect of 6-hydroxydomine (6-OHDA). Our results showed that under normal conditions, 5-8% of nigrostriatal neurons are immunoreactive for GABA, glutamic acid decarboxylase, and parvalbumin, markers of GABAergic neurons, a percentage that reached 81-84% after 6-OHDA injection. Electrophysiologically, NO-DA cells showed a behavior similar to that found in other nigral GABAergic (nigrothalamic) cells. In addition, the 6-OHDA degeneration of DA cells induced a modification of their electrophysiological pattern similar to that found in GABAergic nigrothalamic neurons. Taken together, the present data indicate the existence of a small GABAergic nigrostriatal pathway and suggest their involvement in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.

Expression of trkB and trkC mRNAs by adult midbrain dopamine neurons: a double-label in situ hybridization study

The documented trophic actions of the neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) upon ventral mesencephalic dopamine neurons in vitro and in vivo are presumed to be mediated through interactions with their high-affinity receptors TrkB (for BDNF and NT-4/5) and TrkC (for NT-3). Although both neurotrophin receptor mRNAs have been detected within the rat ventral midbrain, their specific association with mesencephalic dopaminergic cell bodies remains to be elucidated. The present study was performed to determine the precise organization of trkB and trkC mRNAs within rat ventral midbrain and to discern whether the neurotrophin receptor mRNAs are expressed specifically by dopaminergic neurons. In situ hybridization with isotopically labeled cRNA probes showed that trkB and trkC mRNAs were expressed in all mesencephalic dopamine cell groups, including all subdivisions of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, and in the retrorubral field, rostral and caudal linear raphe nuclei, interfascicular nucleus, and supramammillary region. Combined isotopic/nonisotopic double-labeling in situ hybridization demonstrated that virtually all of the tyrosine hydroxylase (the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme) mRNA-containing neurons in the ventral midbrain also expressed trkB or trkC mRNAs. Additional perikarya within these regions expressed the neurotrophin receptor mRNAs but were not dopaminergic. The present results demonstrate that essentially all mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons synthesize the neurotrophin receptors TrkB and TrkC and thus exhibit the capacity to respond directly to BDNF and NT-3 in the adult midbrain in vivo. Moreover, because BDNF and NT-3 are produced locally by subpopulations of the dopaminergic cells, the present data support the notion that the neurotrophins can influence the dopaminergic neurons through autocrine or paracrine mechanisms.

GDNF increases the density of cells containing calbindin but not of cells containing calretinin in cultured rat and human fetal nigral tissue

Among the dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta and in the ventral tegmental area, subpopulations express the calcium-binding proteins calbindin (CB) and calretinin (CR), and the CB-containing neurons are supposed to be less prone to degeneration in Parkinson's disease. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent survival factor for nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Using free-floating roller-tube (FFRT) cultures derived from fetal rat (E14) ventral mesencephalon we found that GDNF (10 ng/ml) significantly increased the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons. The possible effects of GDNF treatment on CB-immunoreactive (CB-ir) and CR-ir neurons in such cultures were examined in the present study. The neuronal cell densities were measured by quantifying the numbers of CB-ir and CR-ir neurons in areas of sections through the most extensive parts of the spherical cultures. In 4-day-old and 8-day-old cultures GDNF treatment increased the density of CB-ir neurons by 50% and 59%, respectively. Partial co-existence of TH and CB was shown using the method of double immunolabeling. The density of CR-containing neurons was unaffected by GDNF treatment as confirmed by Western blotting for CR. Parallel effects of GDNF treatment were obtained for cultures of human fetal ventral mesencephalon (8 weeks postconception). In conclusion, our findings identify GDNF as a potent factor for fetal rat and human nigral CB-ir neurons able to promote their survival in culture. Referring to a suggested neuroprotective role of CB, the results may be of relevance in the context of neuronal transplantation of patients suffering from severe Parkinson's disease.

The midbrain dopaminergic cell groups in the baboon Papio ursinus

The present study evaluates the cytoarchitecture of midbrain dopaminergic regions in baboons using similar methodology to that recently applied to compare humans and rats. This information is relevant for the interpretation of nonhuman primate models of Parkinson's disease (PD). The midbrains of four alpha male baboons were serially sectioned into 10 evenly spaced series of 50 microm sections. Series were stained with either cresyl violet or immunohistochemically reacted for tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P, calbindin-D28k, or parvalbumin. The organization of dopaminergic cell groups and the distribution of proteins within these groups were found to be very similar to that previously described in humans [McRitchie et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 364:121-150; 1996]. Dorsal and ventral tiers of the A9 substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta and all divisions of the A8 and A10 cell groups were identified revealing a high degree of homology in the arrangement of chemically distinct midbrain neurons between primates. The major difference between the organization of human and baboon midbrain dopaminergic neurons is the anteroposterior extent of the dense cell clusters within the SN pars compacta. In baboons the dorsomedial cell cluster is absent at posterior levels. The ventral tier cell clusters, which are targeted by PD in humans, are restricted to the posterior and ventral regions of the SN pars compacta of the baboon. In humans these cell clusters are found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the SN. These ventral cell clusters have been previously shown to have reciprocal connections with sensorimotor regions of the putamen.

Structural and functional evolution of the basal ganglia in vertebrates

While a basal ganglia with striatal and pallidal subdivisions is 1 clearly present in many extant anamniote species, this basal ganglia is cell sparse and receives only a relatively modest tegmental dopaminergic input and little if any cortical input. The major basal ganglia influence on motor functions in anamniotes appears to be exerted via output circuits to the tectum. In contrast, in modern mammals, birds, and reptiles (i.e., modern amniotes), the striatal and pallidal parts of the basal ganglia are very neuron-rich, both consist of the same basic populations of neurons in all amniotes, and the striatum receives abundant tegmental dopaminergic and cortical input. The functional circuitry of the basal ganglia also seems very similar in all amniotes, since the major basal ganglia influences on motor functions appear to be exerted via output circuits to both cerebral cortex and tectum in sauropsids (i.e., birds and reptiles) and mammals. The basal ganglia, output circuits to the cortex, however, appear to be considerably more developed in mammals than in birds and reptiles. The basal ganglia, thus, appears to have undergone a major elaboration during the evolutionary transition from amphibians to reptiles. This elaboration may have enabled amniotes to learn and/or execute a more sophisticated repertoire of behaviors and movements, and this ability may have been an important element of the successful adaptation of amniotes to a fully terrestrial habitat. The mammalian lineage appears, however, to have diverged somewhat from the sauropsid lineage with respect to the emergence of the cerebral cortex as the major target of the basal ganglia circuitry devoted to executing the basal ganglia-mediated control of movement.

Distribution of calbindin D-28k and parvalbumin neurons and fibers in the rat basal ganglia

This review deals with the distribution of immunoreactivity for calbindin D-28k (CB) and parvalbumin (PV) in the different nuclei of the rodent basal ganglia analyzed with the data available after the use of single and double antigen procedures applied to single sections. These findings reveal that CB and PV are distributed according to a highly heterogeneous pattern in the caudate putamen complex (CPu), globus pallidus (GP), entopeduncular nucleus (EP), subthalamic nucleus (STh) and substantia nigra (SN) of the rat. In each basal ganglia structure, the two calcium-binding proteins label different neuronal subsets. Therefore, the use of CB and PV immunohistochemistry may be considered as an excellent tool to define distinct chemoarchitectonic and functional domains within the complex organization of the basal ganglia. Double immunohistochemical methods are also useful to illustrate the relationships between the different chemical subdivisions of the CPu, GP, EP, STh and SN and the chemically characterized connections with each other and with other forebrain and brainstem structures. However, specific rules should be followed when combining single and double immunostaining procedures, and the results of such studies must be evaluated with caution. When they are used properly, these methods can reveal hitherto unknown principles of organization of the basal ganglia and thus shed new light on the anatomical and functional organization of this set of subcortical structures involved in the control of motor behavior.

Regional dopamine transporter gene expression in the substantia nigra from control and Parkinson's disease brains

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that differential regional dopamine transporter (DAT) gene expression may underlie the selective vulnerability of certain nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease, DAT mRNA expression was examined in neuronal subpopulations of human postmortem ventral mesencephalon from patients with Parkinson's disease and controls.

METHODS

Radioactive in situ hybridisation histochemistry using a polymerase chain reaction derived ribonucleotide probe for DAT was performed on sections of ventral mesencephalon from the brains of five donors with no history of neurological illness and from five patients with pathologically established Parkinson's disease. The number of silver grains overlying melanised neurons from the paranigral nucleus, dorsal and ventral tier, and pars lateralis of the substantia nigra pars compacta were compared with each other and to background labelling by using a one way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

In control brains, there was intense DAT mRNA expression in the ventral midbrain with no significant difference in mRNA concentrations among the four regions studied. In the Parkinson's disease brains, there was an overall decrease in the intensity of DAT mRNA expression in the surviving dopaminergic neurons. There were no significant differences in signal between regions in either the control or parkinsonian brains.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these findings do not support the hypothesis that differential regional DAT gene expression underlies the selective vulnerability of certain nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease, as the vulnerable neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta do not express more DAT mRNA than the resistant paranigral neurons.

Axonal expression sites of tyrosine hydroxylase, calretinin- and calbindin-immunoreactivity in striato-pallidal and septal nuclei of the rat brain: a double-immunolabelling study

Besides the dopaminergic afferent projection system, calbindin (CALB)- and calretinin (CR)-immunoreactive fibres of intrinsic and extrinsic origin represent the most abundant axonal categories in the rat striatal and lateral septal areas. The question arises whether or not they may represent separate populations, or whether they form subgroups which co-express more than one of these antigens. Therefore, the present study is focused on the distribution patterns of the axons single-immunolabelled by the catecholaminergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and on TH-immunoreactive axons displaying also CR- and/or CALB-immunoreactivity in double-immunostained sections. Striking differences were found between the patch and matrix compartments of the caudate-putamen (CP). Whereas the vast majority of TH-immunoreactive fibres in the patches and a patch-associated subcallosal layer co-expressed CR but not CALB, fibres mono-labelled by the TH-immunoreactivity were predominant in the matrix. The matrix-like regions of the core of nucleus accumbens (CACC), fundus striati (FS), the striatal cell bridges (CB) and the striatal part of olfactory tubercle (OTU) coincided in this respect with the matrix in CP. The absence of CR-immunoreactivity was also characteristic of the TH-immunoreactive fibres in the patch-like areas of the accumbal core, although a high number of separate CR-immunoreactive axons were present. In the shell of nucleus accumbens (SACC) which receives a rich catecholaminergic innervation, fibres co-expressing either one of the calcium-binding proteins were absent. The islands of Calleja (CJI) displaying a strongly TH-immunoreactive centre and a periphery of lower staining intensity, showed only a low number of TH-immunoreactive fibres co-expressing CR or CALB. The broad shell-like band of TH-immunoreactive axons between medial and lateral part of the septum was single-stained with the TH-immunoreactivity. In contrast, the TH-positive fibres forming basket-like arrangements around some neurons in the dorsal lateral septal nucleus co-expressed also CR, but not CALB. The results are discussed in view of the recent concepts of basal forebrain organization and the cytochemical characteristics of mesencephalic dopaminergic nuclei giving rise to the vast majority of the striatal and septal TH-immunoreactive fibre supply, in order to correlate the known projection patterns with the content of calcium-binding proteins in TH-immunolabelled fibres and presumed cells of origin. The TH-immunoreactive fibres in the striatal patches displaying CR- but not CALB-immunoreactivity may originate mainly from neurons in the ventral tier of pars compacta (SNC) and from the pars reticulata of substantia nigra (SNR) which show identical cytochemical properties. Axons in the matrix of CP and the accumbal core as well as in the islands of Calleja single-labelled by the TH-immunoreactivity or additionally containing CALB and CR may originate from neurons in the dorsal tier of mesencephalic nuclei like SN, pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. CR-containing TH-immunoreactive basket-like axon terminations in the dorsal lateral septal nucleus are likely to originate either from mesencephalic nuclei or from the supramammillary region.

NOS expression in nigral cells after excitotoxic and non-excitotoxic lesion of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus

The substantia nigra (SN) receives afferents from cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg), a neuronal population that shows high levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of nitric oxide. We have investigated the effects of the injection in PPTg of two neurotoxins, kainic acid (an excitotoxic neurotoxin), and ethylcholine mustard azirinium ion (AF64A, a non-excitotoxic neurotoxin), upon the SN cells of the rat, by using choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry as a marker of cholinergic neurons, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry and NOS immunohistochemistry as markers of nitric oxide-producing neurons. Our results show that in normal rats, the SN contains two populations of NOS-positive neurons: large cholinergic neurons of PPTg that invade the caudal region of the SN, and small elongated neurons lying in the SN pars compacta. After ipsilateral PPTg lesion, another population of nigral cells, constituted by medium sized neurons, became NADPHd/NOS-positive. This was much more evident in AF64A-injected rats, in which many medium sized neurons showed enzymatic activity and normal morphological features, at least during the 90 days after injection. Kainic acid-injected rats, in contrast, showed nigral cell degeneration, an effect not found in AF64A material, and only a few NOS-positive neurons. NADPHd/NOS activity was never present in degenerating neurons. These findings suggest that induction of NOS activity is not involved in nigral cell degeneration, and that nitric oxide could have a protective rather than a neurotoxic role. The possible role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is discussed.

Calcium-binding proteins in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area during development: correlation with dopaminergic compartmentalization

The importance of calcium in neuronal function has been amply demonstrated in recent years. The discovery of a class of proteins within neurons which bind calcium, therefore, has proven to be a catalyst for the generation of theories and hypotheses regarding mechanisms of neurotoxicity in the CNS. In addition, the distribution of certain calcium-binding proteins changes during neural development, suggesting that they may play a role in organization or pattern generation. We have examined the ontogeny of three related calcium-binding proteins, calbindin-D28, parvalbumin and calretinin, with respect to the ventral and dorsal compartments or tiers of the dopaminergic population in the ventral midbrain. Single and dual-label immunocytochemistry was employed to map the distributions of calcium-binding proteins and tyrosine hydroxylase from E18 through adulthood. The results show that each of the three proteins exhibits a unique developmental sequence and compartment preference, with calbindin D28 clearly related to the later-developing dorsal tier, and parvalbumin and calretinin to the ventral tier of the dopaminergic ventral mesencephalon.

Progressive supranuclear palsy affects both the substantia nigra pars compacta and reticulata

We have analyzed the neuropathology of the substantia nigra in four cases of progressive supranuclear palsy compared with age-matched controls and patients with Parkinson's disease. Although there are many reports of severe dopaminergic cell loss in progressive supranuclear palsy, the fate of the GABAergic pars reticulata neurones remains unclear. Serial section analysis and fractional counts of pars compacta neurones (identified by their neuromelanin pigment) and pars reticulata neurones (identified using parvalbumin immunohistochemistry) were performed, and the type and distribution of neuropathology were described. Severe neurodegeneration within the dopaminergic pars compacta was seen in all cases of progressive supranuclear palsy and all cases of Parkinson's disease compared with controls. Lewy body pathology was found only in cases of Parkinson's disease, while neurofibrillary tangles were seen only in cases of progressive supranuclear palsy. Tau-positive astrocytes and neuropil threads were occasionally seen in controls and cases of Parkinson's disease (particularly those of advanced age) but were extremely numerous in all cases of progressive supranuclear palsy. There was a similar decrease in parvalbumin immunoreactivity within the pars reticulata in both progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease. However, there was a striking 70% reduction in the number of pars reticulata neurones in progressive supranuclear palsy, with no cell loss observed in Parkinson's disease compared with controls. Our results show that both the dopaminergic pars compacta and the GABAergic pars reticulata are significantly damaged in cases of progressive supranuclear palsy. The distribution of neurodegeneration in patients with Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy is discussed with respect to the current theories on pathophysiology in basal ganglia circuitry.

Specific A10 dopaminergic nuclei in the midbrain degenerate in Parkinson's disease

Using unbiased quantitative techniques, we evaluated the effect of Parkinson's disease on the regional size and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-producing neurons and all neurons in the midbrain A8 and A10 dopaminergic cell groups located adjacent to the substantia nigra. Seven patients with Lewy body Parkinson's disease were evaluated and compared with five controls. Four of the patients with Parkinson's disease had additional neuropathology, and the effect of concomitant pathology on A10 populations was also determined. Degeneration was not observed in the A8 regions of any patient, and only certain A10 nuclei were affected by the disease. The parabrachial pigmented nucleus situated dorsal to the substantial nigra, and the parapeduncular nucleus located rostromedially were significantly reduced by 40-50% in patients with Parkinson's disease. Few differences were found between patients with or without additional pathology, suggesting a similar pathogenic mechanism to that observed in the substantia nigra of these patients. However, patients with additional pathology also had serotonergic cell loss in the caudal linear nucleus. There was a reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity but no overt neurodegeneration in other A10 regions, suggesting the disease may also influence the production of dopamine in some surviving neurons.

Heteromultimerization of G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ channel proteins GIRK1 and GIRK2 and their altered expression in weaver brain

The weaver (wv) gene (GIRK2) is a member of the G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel family, known effectors in the signal transduction pathway of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine, opioid peptides, and substance P in modulation of neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability. GIRK2 immunoreactivity is found in but not limited to brain regions known to be affected in wv mice, such as the cerebellar granule cells and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. It is also observed in the ventral tegmental area, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and thalamus. GIRK2 and GIRK1, a related family member, have overlapping yet distinct distributions in rat and mouse brains. In regions where both channel proteins are expressed, such as the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum, they can be co-immunoprecipitated, indicating that they interact to form heteromeric channels in vivo. In the brain of the wv mouse, GIRK2 expression is decreased dramatically. In regions where GIRK1 and GIRK2 distributions overlap, both GIRK1 and GIRK2 expressions are severely disrupted, probably because of their co-assembly. The expression patterns of these GIRK channel subunits provide a basis for consideration of the machinery for neuronal signaling as well as the differential effects of the wv mutation in various neurons.

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the mouse: co-localization with Calbindin-D28K and calretinin

The calcium-binding proteins Calbindin-D28k and calretinin are co-localized with dopamine in some of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the rat and monkey; the present study sought to examine the pattern of co-localization in the mouse. Double immunofluorescence staining procedures were used for tyrosine hydroxylase (a dopaminergic cell marker) and Calbindin-D28k or calretinin. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons were examined at four rostrocaudal levels, and the percentage of cells that contained both tyrosine hydroxylase and either of the two calcium-binding proteins was determined in nucleus A8 (retrorubral field), nucleus A9 (substantia nigra pars compacta, pars reticulata and pars lateralis) and nucleus A10 (nucleus paranigralis, ventral tegmental area, interfascicular nucleus, central linear nucleus). The two calcium-binding proteins were distributed similarly in midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the several nuclear groups that comprise nuclei A8, A9 and A10. The calcium-binding proteins were found in the majority (50-100%) of nucleus A10 neurons, whereas in nuclei A8 and A9 (except for the substantia nigra pars lateralis) less than 40% of the cells contained either calcium-binding protein. The pattern of co-localization in the mouse is similar to that reported for the rat and monkey. The calcium-binding proteins mark the population of midbrain dopaminergic neurons that are less vulnerable to degeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson's disease.