Histological changes in monoaminergic neurons of Long-Evans Cinnamon rats.
The Long-Evans Cinnamon rat, an animal model of Wilson's disease, is an inbred mutant strain with spontaneous hepatitis isolated from Long-Evans rats. The copper concentration in the brains of Long-Evans Cinnamon rats at 4 weeks of age was lower than that of controls, but higher than that of controls at 20 weeks of age. We investigated the tyrosine hydroxylase and 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive fiber densities in the brains of Long-Evans Cinnamon rats aged 4, 10, and 20 weeks by immunohistochemistry, comparing them with Long-Evans Agouti rats used as controls. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive fiber densities in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats were significantly lower than those of Long-Evans Agouti rats at 4 and 10 weeks of age. On the other hand, 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive fiber densities in the cingulate cortex, caudate-putamen, hypothalamus, and hippocampus in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats were significantly higher than those of controls at 4, 10 and 20 weeks of age. In the cingulate cortex and caudate-putamen, 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive fiber densities became gradually higher with age. The number of aberrant 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive fibers in the cingulate cortex, caudate-putamen, hypothalamus and hippocampus in LEC rats was significantly higher than that of controls. The number of another type of aberrant 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive fibers, which were detected only at 20 weeks of age in the caudate-putamen in LEC rats was significantly higher than that of controls. These results suggest that age-dependent changes in copper concentrations of Long-Evans Cinnamon rats were related to changes in monoaminergic neuron systems.
Kawano
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. hkawano@jb4.so-net.ne.jp
Takeuchi
Y
Y
Yoshimoto
K
K
Matsumoto
K
K
Sugimoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D020332:Rats, Inbred LEC / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D012701:Serotonin; D003300:Copper; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase