title: Variability in neuronal expression of dopamine receptors and transporters in the substantia nigra.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have increased susceptibility to impulse control disorders. Recent studies have suggested that alterations in dopamine receptors in the midbrain underlie impulsive behaviors and that more impulsive individuals, including patients with PD, exhibit increased occupancy of their midbrain dopamine receptors. The cellular location of dopamine receptor subtypes and transporters within the human midbrain may therefore have important implications for the development of impulse control disorders in PD. The localization of the dopamine receptors (D1-D5) and dopamine transporter proteins in the upper brain stems of elderly adult humans (n = 8) was assessed using single immunoperoxidase and double immunofluorescence (with tyrosine hydroxylase to identify dopamine neurons). The relative amount of protein expressed in dopamine neurons from different regions was assessed by comparing their relative immunofluorescent intensities. The midbrain dopamine regions associated with impulsivity (medial nigra and ventral tegmental area [VTA]) expressed less dopamine transporter on their neurons than other midbrain dopamine regions. Medial nigral dopamine neurons expressed significantly greater amounts of D1 and D2 receptors and vesicular monoamine transporter than VTA dopamine neurons. The heterogeneous pattern of dopamine receptors and transporters in the human midbrain suggests that the effects of dopamine and dopamine agonists are likely to be nonuniform. The expression of excitatory D1 receptors on nigral dopamine neurons in midbrain regions associated with impulsivity, and their variable loss as seen in PD, may be of particular interest for impulse control.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia and the School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cottam
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirik
authors.forename: Kay L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Double
authors.forename: Glenda M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Halliday
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine
keywords: Parkinson's disease; dopamine receptors; impulse control disorders; substantia nigra; ventral tegmental area