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Variability in Neuronal Expression of Dopamine Receptors and Transporters in the Substantia Nigra

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Author

  • Stefanie Reyes
  • Veronica Cottam
  • Deniz Kirik
  • Kay L. Double
  • Glenda M. Halliday

Summary, in English

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have increased susceptibility to impulse control disorders. Recent studies have suggested that alterations in dopamine receptors in the midbrain underlie impulsive behaviors and that more impulsive individuals, including patients with PD, exhibit increased occupancy of their midbrain dopamine receptors. The cellular location of dopamine receptor subtypes and transporters within the human midbrain may therefore have important implications for the development of impulse control disorders in PD. The localization of the dopamine receptors (D1-D5) and dopamine transporter proteins in the upper brain stems of elderly adult humans (n=8) was assessed using single immunoperoxidase and double immunofluorescence (with tyrosine hydroxylase to identify dopamine neurons). The relative amount of protein expressed in dopamine neurons from different regions was assessed by comparing their relative immunofluorescent intensities. The midbrain dopamine regions associated with impulsivity (medial nigra and ventral tegmental area [VTA]) expressed less dopamine transporter on their neurons than other midbrain dopamine regions. Medial nigral dopamine neurons expressed significantly greater amounts of D1 and D2 receptors and vesicular monoamine transporter than VTA dopamine neurons. The heterogeneous pattern of dopamine receptors and transporters in the human midbrain suggests that the effects of dopamine and dopamine agonists are likely to be nonuniform. The expression of excitatory D1 receptors on nigral dopamine neurons in midbrain regions associated with impulsivity, and their variable loss as seen in PD, may be of particular interest for impulse control. (c) 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

1351-1359

Publication/Series

Movement Disorders

Volume

28

Issue

10

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Neurology

Keywords

  • dopamine receptors
  • impulse control disorders
  • Parkinson's disease
  • substantia nigra
  • ventral tegmental area

Status

Published

Research group

  • Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems (BRAINS)

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0885-3185