title: Repeated l-DOPA treatment increases c-fos and BDNF mRNAs in the subthalamic nucleus in the 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The subthalamic nucleus and the striatum are input regions of the basal ganglia. This study used the unilateral 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease to examine effects of l-DOPA on the expression of c-fos and BDNF mRNAs in these nuclei. Dopamine depletion per se did not affect c-fos or BDNF. Both a single and repeated injections of l-DOPA induced c-fos, but not BDNF, in the dopamine-depleted striatum. However, repeated l-DOPA treatment increased c-fos and BDNF in the dopamine-depleted subthalamic nucleus. These molecular adaptations may reflect changes in neuronal plasticity that underlie some therapeutic actions and/or side effects of l-DOPA in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Xiaoqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Per E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Andren
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svenningsson
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014316:Tritium; D007980:Levodopa; C021279:(1R-(exo,exo))-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-8-methyl-8- azabicyclo(3.2.1)octane-2-carboxylic acid, methyl ester; D016627:Oxidopamine; D003042:Cocaine