title: Progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain of adult mice heterozygote for Engrailed1: a new genetic model for Parkinson's disease?
abstract: Engrailed1 is a developmental gene of the homeogene family that controls the survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons throughout life. Since these neurons have been crucially implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD), transgenic mice lacking one En1 allele could be of particular interest for the development of an animal model for PD. We showed in En1+/- mice, some traits reminiscent of PD such as (1) a progressive loss of mesencephalic dopaminergic (DA) neurons, and (2) motor deficits, anhedonia, decreased social interactions and depression-like behaviours. Further validation is needed, but these first results suggest that En1+/- mice could provide a promising model for the study of PD.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U894, Laboratory of Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Diseases, University Paris Descartes, Faculty of Medecine Paris Descartes, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France. Gwenaelle.Le-Pen@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Gwenaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Pen
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sonnier
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bizot
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trovero
authors.forename: Marie-Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prochiantz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C080330:En1 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine