Apoptosis-inducing factor in nigral dopamine neurons: Higher levels in primates than in mice.
The nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway is more susceptible to neurodegeneration in primates than in mice, including the neurotoxic effect of MPTP. Apoptosis-inducing-factor was shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of dopaminergic degeneration. We therefore compared its occurrence in nigral dopamine neurons of mice, monkeys, and humans.



Paraffin-embedded brain slices, including the SNpc of C57BL/6J mice, rhesus monkeys, and humans, were immunohistochemically labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (an enzyme of dopamine synthesis), microtubule-associated protein 2 (a neuronal marker), and apoptosis-inducing factor and examined by confocal laser scan microscopy.



The amount of apoptosis-inducing factor in TH-containing SN neurons was 15 times higher in monkeys and 50 times higher in humans than in mice in terms of apoptosis-inducing factor immunoreactive neuronal area excluding the nucleus.



The difference of apoptosis-inducing factor levels between primates and mice might contribute to the higher sensitivity of primates to MPTP-induced neurodegeneration of their nigrostriatal dopamine system. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Tamara M
TM
Peneder
Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Jan
J
Bauer
Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Christian
C
Pifl
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism*; D014015:Tissue Banks; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
MPTP; Parkinson's disease; apoptosis; dopamine neurons; neurodegeneration