Dopaminergic regulation of synaptotagmin I and IV mRNAs in hemiparkinsonian rats

Synaptotagmins (Syts) I and IV are synaptic proteins involved in the regula tion of neurosecretion. Dopaminergic drugs have been shown to modulate thei r expression. Here we investigate whether dopaminergic regulation of syt I and syt IV expression could play a role in the hypersensitive striatum of r ats with unilateral lesions of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons with 6-hy droxydopamine. We show that chronic dopaminergic denervation resulted in a small down-regulation of striatal syt I mRNA, whereas acute treatment with SKF-82958, a dopamine DI receptor agonist, induced a massive syt IV mRNA up regulation in the striatum on the lesioned side. We conclude that chronic l ack of dopamine and treatment with dopamine DI receptor agonists alter the synaptic plasticity in dopamine depleted basal ganglia. NeuroReport 11:4043 -4047 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.