Chronic -DOPA treatment increases striatal cannabinoid CB1 receptor mRNA expression in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats
- Authors: ZENG, BY; DASS, B; OWEN, A; ROSE, S; CANNIZZARO, C; TEL, BC; JENNER, P
- Publication year: 1999
- Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/37645
Abstract
The effect of a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the left medial forebrain bundle and 3 weeks treatment with -DOPA of normal and 6-OHDA lesioned rats on CB1r mRNA expression was investigated by in situ hybridization. A 6-OHDA lesion of nigrostriatal pathway alone, confirmed by the loss of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA, did not alter CB1r mRNA levels in the dopamine depleted striatum. Similarly, chronic -DOPA treatment of normal rats had no effect on striatal CB1r mRNA expression. In contrast, chronic -DOPA treatment of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats significantly increased CB1r mRNA expression in the denervated striatum. These results suggest that the CB1r activity may be altered by -DOPA's action and this may be related to the treatment of Parkinson's disease.