title: The Role of Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Striatum in Electroacupuncture Treatment of Parkinsonian Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glutamatergic transmission may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate PD symptoms. In this study, a potential glutamate-dependent mechanism underlying the therapeutic action of EA was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of EA stimulation on motor behaviors, dopamine contents, glutamate release, and group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2/3) expression in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unilateral 6-OHDA lesions of the nigrostriatal system caused a marked increase in glutamate content in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum. mGluR2/3 protein expression and mGluR3 mRNA expression were reduced in the striatum. Noticeably, prolonged EA stimulation at 100 Hz significantly reversed these changes in the striatal glutamate system. Behaviorally, EA improved the motor deficits induced by 6-OHDA lesions. Intrastriatal infusion of an mGluR2/3 antagonist APICA blocked the improving effect of EA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data collectively demonstrate that the group II mGluR-mediated glutamatergic transmission in the striatum is sensitive to dopamine depletion and may serve as a substrate of EA for mediating the therapeutic effect of EA in a rat model of PD.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zuo-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D013565:Sympatholytics; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
keywords: Basal ganglia circuit; Electroacupuncture; Glutamate; Parkinson's disease; mGluR