Parkinson's disease is characterized by the premature neurodegeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons. In order to discover what may be causing this cellular loss or provide a treatment that may decrease the progression of the disease, studies in our laboratory have been focused on identifying factors that are important for the survival and plasticity of dopamine neurons. In order to carry out this goal, we have been utilizing three mouse models. The first, is the weaver mutant mouse in which abnormal development of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal fibers is first observed followed by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in a similar pattern to what is found in Parkinson's disease, TGF-alpha, during the time of dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. In addition, we have found that these mice also have decreased levels of thyroid hormone, a potent regulator of brain development. Therefore, we have proposed studies aimed at discovering whether the decreases in either TGF-alpha or thyroid hormone are responsible for the neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons in the weaver mutant mouse. Recently, another mutant mouse has been discovered, waved-1, which has a deficiency in TGF-alpha expression. The availability of this second mouse mutant, allows us to specifically test whether a deficiency in TGF-alpha alone results in the degeneration of dopamine neurons or increase their sensitivity to the neurotoxin, 1- methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). There is evidence that the more resilient mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons are able to undergo collateral axonal sprouting in response to degeneration of the nigrostrital neurons. Thus, these dopaminergic neurons represent a potential target to stimulate collateral axonal sprouting after neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. However, there is an age-related loss in the capacity of these neurons to spontaneously sprout. Therefore, in the last mouse model system we investigate what endogenous factors may be responsible for lesion-induced plasticity of dopamine neurons in young animals, how their induction in response to injury is regulated, and whether lesion-induced activation becomes the limiting factor in the age-related loss of dopaminergic plasticity. The results of these studies may reveal therapeutic possibilities for enhancing the recovery of dopamine neurons in neurodegenerative diseases in which spontaneous recovery does not normally occur.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG008538-07
Application #
2699756
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-NLS-1 (02))
Project Start
1992-05-01
Project End
2000-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-01
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
114400633
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Bains, Mona; Roberts, James L (2016) Estrogen protects against dopamine neuron toxicity in primary mesencephalic cultures through an indirect P13K/Akt mediated astrocyte pathway. Neurosci Lett 610:79-85
Cheng, Benxu; Martinez, Alex Anthony; Morado, Jacob et al. (2013) Retinoic acid protects against proteasome inhibition associated cell death in SH-SY5Y cells via the AKT pathway. Neurochem Int 62:31-42
Cheng, Benxu; Maffi, Shivani Kaushal; Martinez, Alex Anthony et al. (2011) Insulin-like growth factor-I mediates neuroprotection in proteasome inhibition-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Mol Cell Neurosci 47:181-90
Cunningham, Rebecca L; Giuffrida, Andrea; Roberts, James L (2009) Androgens induce dopaminergic neurotoxicity via caspase-3-dependent activation of protein kinase Cdelta. Endocrinology 150:5539-48
Khaing, Zin Z; Roberts, James L (2009) Embryonic mescencephalon derived neurospheres contain progenitors as well as differentiated neurons and glia. Restor Neurol Neurosci 27:611-20
Bains, Mona; Cousins, Joanne C; Roberts, James L (2007) Neuroprotection by estrogen against MPP+-induced dopamine neuron death is mediated by ERalpha in primary cultures of mouse mesencephalon. Exp Neurol 204:767-76
Khaing, Zin Z; Blum, Mariann (2003) Detection of cell proliferation and cell fate in adult CNS using BrdU double-label immunohistochemistry. Methods Mol Med 79:499-505
Steiner, H; Blum, M; Kitai, S T et al. (1999) Differential expression of ErbB3 and ErbB4 neuregulin receptors in dopamine neurons and forebrain areas of the adult rat. Exp Neurol 159:494-503
Blum, M; Weickert, C; Carrasco, E (1999) The weaver GIRK2 mutation leads to decreased levels of serum thyroid hormone: characterization of the effect on midbrain dopaminergic neuron survival. Exp Neurol 160:413-24
Ho, A; Blum, M (1998) Induction of interleukin-1 associated with compensatory dopaminergic sprouting in the denervated striatum of young mice: model of aging and neurodegenerative disease. J Neurosci 18:5614-29

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