Dopamine (DA)-containing projections to the cerebral cortex are considered to play an important role in cognitive processes. Using a recently developed monoclonal antiserum directed against DA and an antibody directed against tyrosine hydroxylase in combination with Golgi impregnation and electron microscopy, we have observed that DA and tyrosine hydroxylase afferents establish symmetric membra...

Background: Animal models have provided an important tool for the study of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. To date, however, no high throughput techniques have been available for the specific visualization of catecholaminergic neurons in vivo. Methods: Here, we generated transgenic mice with a 4.5 kb tyrosine hydroxylase promoter driving a firefly luciferase reporter gene b...

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is often used in models of Parkinson's disease since it can selectively target and kill dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra. In this study, pre-treatment of PC12 cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibited apoptosis and necrosis by 6-OHDA, including caspase activity and lactate dehydrogenase release. Notably, cells exposed to 6-OHDA in the presence of NGF we...

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunohistochemistry and Golgi techniques were used to study the structure of the adult rat arcuate-median eminence complex, and determine the distribution of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities therein, particularly in relation to the tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons. Punctate dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities, likely located on nerve...

Background: Free radical formation and oxidative stress might play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In vitro data indicate that neuromelanin (NM) pigment is formed the excess cytosolic catecholamine that is not accumulated into synaptic vesicles via the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). We designed this study to investigate the neuroprotective effects ...

A 37 year woman developed neuroleptic induced parkinsonism that persisted long after the drug had been discontinued. This prompted a study of the effect of an eight week course of haloperidol (HAL) followed by two week withdrawal, on dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in rats. Animals treated with HAL showed a highly significant 32%-46% loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive...