An L-dopaergic relay from the posterior hypothalamic nucleus to the rostral ventrolateral medulla and its cardiovascular function in anesthetized rats

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-induced c-Fos expression in the CNS under inhibition of central aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) is a neurotransmitter candidate. To map the DOPAergic system functionally, DOPA-induced c-Fos expression was detected under inhibition of central aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). In rats treated with a central AADC inhibitor, DOPA significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive nuclei in the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) and the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), and showed a tendency to increase in the supraoptic nuclei (SON), but not in the striatum. On the other hand, DOPA with a peripheral AADC inhibitor elevated the level of c-Fos-positive nuclei in the four regions, suggesting that DOPA itself induces c-Fos expression in the SON, PVN and NTS. In rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to lesion the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) pathway, DOPA significantly induced c-Fos expression in the four regions under the inhibition of peripheral AADC. However, under the inhibition of central AADC, DOPA did not significantly increase the number of c-Fos-positive nuclei in the four regions, suggesting that DOPA at least in part induces c-Fos expression through its conversion to DA. It was likely that the 6-OHDA lesion enhanced the response to DA, but attenuated that to DOPA itself. In conclusion, we proposed that the SON, PVN and NTS include target sites for DOPA itself.

Possibility of autocrine beta-adrenergic signaling in C2C12 myotubes

Levodopa reportedly inhibits insulin action in skeletal muscle. Here we show that C2C12 myotubes produce levodopa and that insulin-stimulated glucose transport is enhanced when endogenous levodopa is depleted. Exogenous levodopa prevented the stimulation of glucose transport by insulin (P < 0.05) and increased cAMP concentrations (P < 0.05). The decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose transport caused by levodopa was attenuated by propranolol (a beta-adrenergic antagonist) and prevented by NSD-1015 (NSD), an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase (DDC; converts levodopa to dopamine). Propranolol and NSD both prevented levodopa-related increases in [cAMP]. However, the effects of levodopa were unlikely to be dependent on the conversion of levodopa to catecholamines because we could detect neither DDC in myotubes nor catecholamines in media after incubation of myotubes with levodopa. The data suggest the possibility of novel autocrine beta-adrenergic action in C2C12 myotubes in which levodopa, produced by myotubes, could have hormone-like effects that impinge on glucose metabolism.

L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine as a neurotransmitter candidate in the central nervous system

Historically, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) has been believed to be an inert amino acid that alleviates the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by its conversion to dopamine via the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. In contrast to this generally accepted idea, we propose that DOPA itself is a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator, in addition to being a precursor of dopamine. Several criteria, such as synthesis, metabolism, active transport, existence, physiological release, competitive antagonism, and physiological or pharmacological responses, must be satisfied before a compound is accepted as a neurotransmitter. Recent evidence suggests that DOPA fulfills these criteria in its involvement mainly in baroreflex neurotransmission in the lower brainstem and in delayed neuronal death by transient ischemia in the striatum and the hippocampal CA1 region of rats.

DOPA causes glutamate release and delayed neuron death by brain ischemia in rats

DOPA seems to be a neuromodulator in striata and hippocampal CA1 and a neurotransmitter of the primary baroreceptor afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and baroreflex pathways in the caudal ventrolateral medulla and rostral ventrolateral medulla in the brainstem of rats. DOPA recognition sites differ from dopamine (DA) D(1) and D(2) and ionotropic glutamate receptors. Via DOPA sites, DOPA stereoselectively releases by itself neuronal glutamate from in vitro and in vivo striata. In the cultured neurons, DOPA and DA cause neuron death via autoxidation. In addition, DOPA causes autoxidation-irrelevant neuron death via glutamate release. Furthermore, DOPA released by four-vessel occlusion seems to be an upstream causal factor for glutamate release and resultant delayed neuron death by brain ischemia in striata and hippocampal CA1. Glutamate has been regarded as a neurotransmitter of baroreflex pathways. Herein, we propose a new pathway that DOPA is a neurotransmitter of the primary aortic depressor nerve and glutamate is that of secondary neurons in neuronal microcircuits of depressor sites in the NTS. DOPA seems to release unmeasurable, but functioning, endogenous glutamate from the secondary neurons via DOPA sites. A common following pathway may be ionotropic glutamate receptors-nNOS activation-NO production-baroreflex neurotransmission and delayed neuron death. However, we are concerned that DOPA therapy may accelerate neuronal degeneration process especially at progressive stages of Parkinson's disease.

Involvement of nitric oxide production via kynurenic acid-sensitive glutamate receptors in DOPA-induced depressor responses in the nucleus tractus solitarii of anesthetized rats

We have proposed the hypothesis that L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) plays a role of neurotransmitter of the primary baroreceptor afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). In the present study, we tried to clarify whether glutamate receptors and/or nitric oxide (NO), important modulators for central cardiovascular regulation, are involved in the DOPA-induced cardiovascular responses in the nucleus. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with urethane and artificially ventilated. Compounds or antisense oligos (17-mer) for neuronal NO synthase were microinjected into depressor sites of the unilateral nucleus. DOPA 30-300 pmol microinjected into the nucleus dose-dependently induced depressor and bradycardic responses. Prior injection of kynurenic acid (600 pmol) suppressed DOPA (300 pmol)-induced responses by approximately 80%. Prior injection of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine 100 nmol, a potent NO synthase inhibitor, reversibly attenuated by approximately 90% DOPA-induced responses, while the D-isomer 100 nmol produced no effect. Furthermore, prior injection of neuronal NO synthase antisense oligos (20 pmol) reversibly reduced by approximately 70% responses to DOPA. Sense or scrambled oligos produced no effect. A NO precursor L-arginine (30 nmol) induced depressor and bradycardic responses, but these responses were not affected by kynurenic acid. These results suggest important roles for glutamate receptors and NO in DOPA induced-depressor and bradycardic responses in the NTS.

Is DOPA a neurotransmitter?

Historically, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) has been considered to be an inert amino acid that alleviates the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by its conversion to dopamine via the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. In contrast to this generally accepted idea, we propose that DOPA itself is a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in addition to being a precursor of dopamine. Several criteria such as synthesis, metabolism, active transport, existence, physiological release, competitive antagonism and physiological or pharmacological responses must be satisfied before a compound is accepted as a neurotransmitter. Recent evidence suggests that DOPA fulfills these criteria in its involvement in baroreflex neurotransmission.

Autoradiographic studies using L-[(14)C]DOPA and L-DOPA reveal regional Na(+)-dependent uptake of the neurotransmitter candidate L-DOPA in the CNS

We previously proposed that L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is a neurotransmitter in the CNS. Receptor and transporter molecules for L-DOPA, however, have not been determined. In the present study, in order to localize the uptake sites of L-DOPA in the CNS, we performed autoradiographic uptake studies using L-[14C]DOPA and L-[3H]DOPA in the uptake study on rat brain slice preparations, and further analyzed the properties of L-DOPA uptake. Image analysis of the L-[14C]DOPA autoradiogram showed a unique heterogeneous distribution of uptake sites in the brain. The intensity was relatively high in the cerebral cortex, the hypothalamus, the cerebellum and the hippocampus, while the density was moderate or even low in the striatum and the substantia nigra. L-DOPA and phenylalanine, but not dopamine (10mM) were able to almost completely inhibit the uptake of L-[14C]DOPA to basal levels. Microautoradiographic studies using L-[3H]DOPA revealed accumulation of dense grains in the median eminence, the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, the cerebral cortex (layer I) and the hippocampus. In the cerebellum, grains formed in clusters surrounding the Purkinje cells. This grain accumulation was concluded to be in Bergmann glial cells, since the morphological pattern of grain accumulation was similar to that of the immunoreactivity of the glutamate aspartate transporter, a marker protein for Bergmann glial cells. In the hippocampus, the grain density significantly decreased under Na(+)-free conditions. In addition, grain density also decreased in the absence of Cl(-). In contrast, grains in the choroid plexus and the ependymal cell layer, were not affected by the absence of Na(+). These findings indicated that the uptake of L-DOPA occurs via various types of large neutral amino acid transport mechanisms. It appears that neuronal and/or glial cells, which take up L-DOPA in a Na(+)-dependent manner, exist in the CNS. Our finding further supports the concept that L-DOPA itself may act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator.

Differential expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the rat ventrolateral medulla

Adrenergic (C1) neurons located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla are considered a key component in the control of arterial blood pressure. Classically, C1 cells have been identified by their immunoreactivity for the catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and/or phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT). However, no studies have simultaneously demonstrated the expression of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in these neurons. We examined the expression and colocalization of all four enzymes in the rat ventrolateral medulla using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Retrograde tracer injected into thoracic spinal segments T2-T4 was used to identify bulbospinal neurons. Using fluorescence and confocal microscopy, most cells of the C1 group were shown to be double or triple labeled with TH, DBH, and PNMT, whereas only 65-78% were immunoreactive for AADC. Cells that lacked detectable immunoreactivity for AADC were located in the rostral C1 region, and approximately 50% were spinally projecting. Some cells in this area lacked DBH immunoreactivity (6.5-8.3%) but were positive for TH and/or PNMT. Small numbers of cells were immunoreactive for only one of the four enzymes. Numerous fibres that were immunoreactive for DBH but not for TH or PNMT were noted in the rostral C1 region. Single-cell RT-PCR analysis conducted on spinally projecting C1 neurons indicated that only 76.5% of cells that contained mRNA for TH, DBH, and PNMT contained detectable message for AADC. These experiments suggest that a proportion of C1 cells may not express all of the enzymes necessary for adrenaline synthesis.

Evaluation of L-DOPA biotransformation during repeated L-DOPA infusion into the striatum in freely-moving young and old rats

The aim of this study was to assess changes in L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) biotransformation in response to two-pulse infusion of L-DOPA into the striatum of freely-moving young (3-4 month) and old (21-26 month) male Wistar rats. In addition, the effects of L-DOPA infusion on the vesicular dopamine (DA) store in young rats were also studied. Both L-DOPA-induced DA overflow and uptake of the perfused L-DOPA by the striatum were used to study L-DOPA biotransformation during microdialysis. High potassium-induced DA depletion was performed to assess the dynamics of the vesicular DA store following L-DOPA infusion. Concentric microdialysis probes were stereotaxically implanted in the lateral striatum of rats of both age groups and microdialysis was begun 24 h later. All rats received 2x20 min infusions of 3 mgr L-DOPA separated by an interval of 60 min. In the striatum of both groups, L-DOPA-induced DA overflow and uptake of exogenous L-DOPA were both significantly enhanced during the second infusion compared to the first. In young rats, when a 20-min infusion of 3 mgr L-DOPA was given between 2x20 min infusions of 100 mM potassium, no increased DA release was seen at the second high potassium challenge compared with the first. Our results suggest that the enhancement of DA overflow induced by the second L-DOPA infusion is, at least partially, due to an increase in L-DOPA biotransformation, and not simply to an enlarged DA pool. In contrast to the in vitro results, our own in vivo results show that L-DOPA utilization in the aging striatum does not deteriorate with age.

L-DOPA cyclohexyl ester is a novel potent and relatively stable competitive antagonist against L-DOPA among several L-DOPA ester compounds

We explored L-DOPA esters with chemically bulky structures to find a potent stable competitive antagonist against L-DOPA, compared to DOPA methyl ester (DOPA ME). In anesthetized rats, DOPA cyclohexyl ester (DOPA CHE), DOPA cyclopentyl ester (DOPA CPE) and DOPA cyclopentyldimethyl ester (DOPA CPDME) at 1 microgram microinjected into depressor sites of the nucleus tractus solitarii elicited or tended to elicit more marked antagonism against depressor responses to 60 ng L-DOPA, compared to DOPA ME. At 100 ng, DOPA CHE elicited the most potent antagonism. At 1 microgram, duration of the antagonistic activity of DOPA CHE was approximately three times longer than that of DOPA ME. During microdialysis of the nucleus accumbens, conversion from DOPA CHE at 1 microM perfused via probes to extracellular L-DOPA was the lowest among these compounds and less than one half of that from DOPA ME. Binding studies showed that the recognition site for L-DOPA differs from ionotropic glutamatergic, dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors. We recently found that L-DOPA evoked by transient ischemia may act as a DOPA CHE-sensitive causal factor for glutamate release and resultant neuronal cell death. DOPA CHE is the most potent, relatively stable competitive antagonist against L-DOPA and is a useful mother compound to develop neuroprotective drugs.