title: Systemic 3-nitropropionic acid: long-term effects on locomotor behavior.
abstract: Systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) results in striatal atrophy by irreversibly inhibiting the citric acid cycle, and thereby resulting in cellular ATP depletion. The neuropathological outcome following 3-NP injections is thought to resemble that seen in Huntington's disease (HD) [1]. The current study administered systemic injections in 6- and 10-week-old rats of low-dose 3-NP every other 4 days for a period of 28 days in order to investigate the effects on locomotor behavior and striatal D1 dopamine receptor binding. Experimental and control animals received intraperitoneal injections of 3-NP (10 mg/kg in 0.9% saline) and 0.9% saline, respectively. Animals were tested behaviorally prior to the first and after the last 3-NP administration. Brains were then removed and striatal tissue samples were analyzed for D1 dopamine receptor binding using [3H]SCH23390. Behaviorally, 6-week-old injected animals developed bradykinesia with no signs of stiffness or rigidity, while 10-week-old injected animals displayed an uncoordinated gait, stiffness and ventral recumbency with hind limbs extended in a rigid or fixed position. These visual observations of hypoactivity were supported by a significant decline in both experimental groups' locomotor activity as measured by Digiscan monitors. Furthermore, [3H]SCH23390 specific binding to D1 dopamine receptors revealed a small but significant decrease in 10-week-old injected animals compared to controls. These results demonstrate that both 6- and 10-week-old rats do exhibit behavioral alterations after long-term 3-NP administration, however the former may not show accompanying gross D1 receptor changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa 33612-4799.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Koutouzis
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Borlongan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scorcia
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Creese
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sanberg
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C015392:3-nitropropionic acid