HIV-1 GP120-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY TO MIDBRAIN DOPAMINE CULTURES

HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor dysfunction is a frequent neurologica l complication of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and has be en termed AIDS dementia complex (ADC). The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 has been implicated in producing brain injury associated with A DC. The purpose of the present study was to determine if gp120-induced neurotoxicity is associated with damage to dopaminergic systems. Expo sure of rat midbrain dopamine cultures to gp120 for 3 days reduced the ability of dopaminergic cells to transport this amine and also result ed in a reduction in dopamine neuron process length while it did not a lter either dopamine cell number or the total number of neuronal cells . These detrimental effects of gp120 were prevented by an NMDA recepto r antagonist (MK-801) or by preincubation with anti-gp120 antibody. Th ese results suggest that dopaminergic neuronal damage may contribute t o the manifestations of AIDS dementia complex.