Abstract
Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder whose symptoms are caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons innervating the striatum. As striatal dopamine levels fall, striatal acetylcholine release rises, exacerbating motor symptoms. This adaptation is commonly attributed to the loss of interneuronal regulation by inhibitory D(2) dopamine receptors. Our results point to a completely different, new mechanism. After striatal dopamine depletion, D(2) dopamine receptor modulation of calcium (Ca(2+)) channels controlling vesicular acetylcholine release in interneurons was unchanged, but M(4) muscarinic autoreceptor coupling to these same channels was markedly attenuated. This adaptation was attributable to the upregulation of RGS4-an autoreceptor-associated, GTPase-accelerating protein. This specific signaling adaptation extended to a broader loss of autoreceptor control of interneuron spiking. These observations suggest that RGS4-dependent attenuation of interneuronal autoreceptor signaling is a major factor in the elevation of striatal acetylcholine release in Parkinson disease.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism*
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Action Potentials / drug effects
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Action Potentials / physiology
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Animals
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Autoreceptors / drug effects
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Autoreceptors / metabolism
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Calcium Channels / drug effects
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Calcium Channels / metabolism
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Cell Communication / drug effects
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Cell Communication / physiology
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Corpus Striatum / cytology
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Corpus Striatum / drug effects
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Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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Down-Regulation / drug effects
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Down-Regulation / physiology
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Interneurons / drug effects
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Interneurons / metabolism*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Muscarinic Agonists / pharmacology
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Oxotremorine / pharmacology
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Parkinson Disease / metabolism
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Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
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RGS Proteins / genetics
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RGS Proteins / metabolism*
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Rats
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Receptor, Muscarinic M4 / drug effects
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Receptor, Muscarinic M4 / metabolism*
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Receptors, Dopamine D2 / drug effects
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Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology
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Up-Regulation / drug effects
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Up-Regulation / physiology
Substances
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Autoreceptors
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Calcium Channels
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Muscarinic Agonists
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RGS Proteins
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Receptor, Muscarinic M4
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Receptors, Dopamine D2
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RGS4 protein
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Oxotremorine
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Acetylcholine
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Dopamine