Decreased density of amygdaloid parvalbumin-positive interneurons and behavioral changes in dystonic hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).
The dtsz hamster represents a model of primary paroxysmal nonkinesiogenic dyskinesia in which dystonic episodes can be induced by stress and anxious stimuli. This disease is regarded as a basal ganglia disorder. In fact, a deficit of striatal interneurons could play a key role in the pathophysiology in dystonic hamsters. Because the involvement of limbic structures cannot be excluded so far, the density of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) interneurons was determined in the basolateral amygdala in the present study. Compared with nondystonic hamsters, the density of PV+ interneurons was moderately decreased in the dtsz mutant. The functional consequence of this finding was examined by behavioral analyses. Examinations in the elevated plus maze and in a modified open field failed to disclose an enhanced anxiety-related behavior in dtsz hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). A lower acoustic startle response and a stronger habituation in mutant hamsters than in controls correlated with a decreased body weight. Interestingly, prepulse inhibition was absent in mutant hamsters. The latter finding suggests a disturbed sensorimotor gating that can be related to alterations in both the basal ganglia nuclei and in limbic structures.
Hamann
Melanie
M
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Bennay
Mustapha
M
Gernert
Manuela
M
Schwabe
Kerstin
K
Koch
Michael
M
Richter
Angelika
A
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000367:Age Factors; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004421:Dystonia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology
D010320:Parvalbumins