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The Unilateral Nigral Lesion Induces Dramatic Bilateral Modification on Rat Brain Monoamine Neurochemistry
Author(s) -
Pierucci Massimo,
Di Matteo Vincenzo,
Benigno Arcangelo,
Crescimanno Giuseppe,
Esposito Ennio,
Di Giovanni Giuseppe
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03679.x
Subject(s) - neurochemistry , monoamine neurotransmitter , lesion , neuroscience , medicine , neurology , psychology , serotonin , pathology , receptor
6‐Hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) is a neurotoxic compound commonly used to induce dopamine (DA) depletion in the nigrostriatal system, mimicking Parkinson's disease (PD) in animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the 7‐day effect of unilateral nigral lesion on rat brain monoamine neurochemistry. Five brain regions were examined: the brain stem, cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. 6‐OHDA‐unilateral lesion dramatically modified DA, serotonin (5‐HT) and their metabolites contents in both sides of the different brain nuclei. Furthermore, unilateral 6‐OHDA lesion reduced DA and 5‐HT contents and produced a robust inversion of their turnover in the nonlesioned side compared to sham‐operated rats. These data suggest that 6‐OHDA unilateral nigral lesion produces bilateral monoamine level modifications, and this piece of evidence should be taken into account when one interprets data from animal models of unilateral PD.