title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor modulates dopaminergic deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease.
abstract: Dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons may contribute to motor impairment in Huntington's disease. Here, we study the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in alterations of the nigrostriatal system associated with transgenics carrying mutant huntingtin. Using huntingtin-BDNF+/- double-mutant mice, we analyzed the effects of reducing the levels of BDNF expression in a model of Huntington's disease (R6/1). When compared with R6/1 mice, these mice exhibit an increased number of aggregates in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In addition, reduction of BDNF expression exacerbates the dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction seen in mutant huntingtin mice, such as the decrease in retrograde labelling of dopaminergic neurons and striatal dopamine content. However, mutant huntingtin mice with normal or lowered BDNF expression show the same decrease in the anterograde transport, number of dopaminergic neurons and nigral volume. In addition, reduced BDNF expression causes decreased dopamine receptor expression in mutant huntingtin mice. Examination of changes in locomotor activity induced by dopamine receptor agonists revealed that, in comparison with R6/1 mice, the double mutant mice exhibit lower activity in response to amphetamine, but not to apomorphine. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the decreased BDNF expression observed in Huntington's disease exacerbates dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction, which may participate in the motor disturbances associated with this neurodegenerative disorder.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cel.lular i Anatomia Patològica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Canals
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adell
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mengod
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernfors
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberch
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000235:genetics; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015259:Dopamine Agents; C506812:Htt protein, mouse; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D000661:Amphetamine; D004298:Dopamine