Basal ganglia neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression in Parkinson's disease

Expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA in post mortem brain was stu died in putamen, globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus (STN) of neurologi cally normal control subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) us ing in situ hybridization histochemistry. In PD, a significant increase in NOS mRNA expression was observed in the dorsal two-thirds of the STN with r espect to the ventral one-third of the STN. A significant increase in NOS m RNA expression per cell in the medial medullary lamina of the globus pallid us was also observed in PD. NOS mRNA expression was significantly reduced i n PD putamen. These findings provide evidence of increased activity of STN neurotransmitter systems in PD and demonstrate for the first time in any sp ecies that basal ganglia nitric oxide systems can be selectively regulated in response to changes in dopaminergic input. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.