GLUTAMIC-ACID DECARBOXYLASE GENE-EXPRESSION IN THE DOPAMINE-DENERVATED STRIATUM - EFFECTS OF INTRASTRIATAL FETAL NIGRAL TRANSPLANTS OR CHRONIC APOMORPHINE TREATMENT

Glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA expression was studied in the striatu m of rats subjected to a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the ni grostriatal dopamine projection, followed by either intrastriatal tran splants of fetal nigral neurons or chronic apomorphine treatment. For in situ hybridization histochemistry, a S-35 labelled cRNA probe selec tive for the mRNA encoding the 67-kDa isoform of the enzyme (GAD67) wa s used. The results show that fetal dopaminergic grafts in the dopamin e-denervated striatum restore an inhibitory control on GAD67 gene expr ession in the host neurons ar.d also counteract the up-regulation of G AD67 mRNA levels induced by chronic apomorphine treatment. (C) 1997 El sevier Science B.V.