(G2019S) LRRK2 causes early-phase dysfunction of SNpc dopaminergic neurons and impairment of corticostriatal long-term depression in the PD transgenic mouse

Jun Shiao Chou, Chu Yu Chen, Ying Ling Chen, Yi Hsin Weng, Tu Hsueh Yeh, Chin Song Lu, Ya Ming Chang, Hung Li Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Twelve- to sixteen-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice prepared by us displayed progressive neuronal death of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) dopaminergic cells. In the present study, we hypothesized that prior to a late-phase death of SNpc dopaminergic neurons, (G2019S) LRRK2 also causes an early-phase neuronal dysfunction of SNpc dopaminergic cells in the (G2019S) LRRK2 mouse. Eight to nine-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice exhibited the symptom of hypoactivity in the absence of the degeneration of SNpc dopaminergic neurons or nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminals. Whole-cell current-clamp recordings of SNpc dopaminergic cells in brain slices demonstrated a significant decrease in spontaneous firing frequency of SNpc dopaminergic neurons of 8-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 mice. Carbon fiber electrode amperometry recording using striatal slices showed that (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice at the age of 8 to 9. months display an impaired evoked dopamine release in the dorsolateral striatum. Normal nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is required for the induction of long-term synaptic plasticity expressed at corticostriatal glutamatergic synapses of striatal medium spiny neurons. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings showed that in contrast to medium spiny neurons of 8 to 9-month-old wild-type mice, high-frequency stimulation of corticostriatal afferents failed to induce long-term depression (LTD) of corticostriatal EPSCs in medium spiny neurons of (G2019S) LRRK2 mice at the same age. Our study provides the evidence that mutant (G2019S) LRRK2 causes early-phase dysfunctions of SNpc dopaminergic neurons, including a decrease in spontaneous firing rate and a reduction in evoked dopamine release, and impairment of corticostriatal LTD in the (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mouse.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)190-199
Number of pages10
JournalNeurobiology of Disease
Volume68
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • (G2019S) LRRK2
  • (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mouse
  • Corticostriatal long-term depression
  • Corticostriatal long-term potentiation
  • Evoked dopamine release
  • SNpc dopaminergic neurons
  • Striatal medium spiny neurons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • General Medicine

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