A role for interleukin-2 in the regulation of striatal dopaminergic function.
The present study determined whether interleukin-2 (IL-2) is endogenous to the normal adult rat striatum and whether IL-2 regulates striatal dopaminergic tone. IL-2 mRNA (1.5 kb size), endogenous IL-2 and IL-2 receptors were found to be distributed throughout the rat striatum in moderate densities. Application of exogenous IL-2 to striatal slices in in vitro produced significant increases in both spontaneous and potassium (25 mM)-evoked [3H] dopamine release. The modulatory effect of IL-2 was dependent on the presence of external calcium and required axonal nerve activity, since IL-2 was unable to increase transmitter release under low external calcium conditions or in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Overall, this study indicates that IL-2 may be an endogenous neurokine that regulates striatal dopaminergic function in normal animals.
Lapchak
P A
PA
Ethel Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089.
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D004298:Dopamine