title: ERK1, 2, and 5 expression and activation in dopaminergic brain regions during postnatal development.
abstract: Degeneration and dysfunctioning of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain have been associated with serious neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Elucidating the underlying neurobiology of these neurons during early postnatal development may provide important information regarding the etiology of these disorders. Cellular signaling pathways have been shown to regulate postnatal neuronal development. Among several signaling pathways, extracellular-regulated mitogen kinases (ERK) 1, 2, and 5 have been shown to be crucial for the survival and function of dopaminergic neurons. In this study, the basal expression and activation of ERK1, 2, and 5 were studied during postnatal development in regions rich in DA cells and terminals. In the striatum (STR) and ventral mesencephalon regions of the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), ERK5 expression and activation were high during early postnatal days and declined with aging. Interestingly, sharp increases in phosphorylated or activated ERK1 and ERK2 were observed at postnatal day (PND) 7 in the SN and VTA. In contrast, in the STR, the levels of phosphorylated ERK1 and 2 were significantly higher at PND0 than at any other PND examined. Overall, the understanding of alterations in ERK signaling in regions rich in DA cells and DA terminals during postnatal neuronal development may provide information about their role in regulation of dopamine neuronal development which may ultimately provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of dopamine neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States.
authors.forename: Mayur S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.affiliation: Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.
authors.forename: Juliann D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jaumotte
authors.affiliation: Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zigmond
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States. Electronic address: cavanaughj@duq.edu.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048054:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048054:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Dopamine neurons; MAP kinases; Striatum; Substantia nigra; Ventral tegmental area