Mechanism of over-activation in direct pathway mediated by dopamine D_1 receptor in rats with levodopa-induced dyskinesias

Objective To study the changes of prodynorphin （PDyn） gene expression and dopamine and cAMPregulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa （DARPP-32） phosphorylation in rats with levodopa-induced dyskinesias （LID）, and to explore the mechanism of over-activation in direct pathway mediated by dopamine D1 receptor. Methods Parkinson＇s disease （PD） rats were received levodopa （10 mg/kg, i.p.） for 28 d to get the LID rats. According to the behavior scale, LID rats were divided into mild （n=8） and severe （n=16） groups. On day 29, 8 rats in severe LID group were given an acute intraperitoneal injection of MK-801 （0.1 mg/kg） 15 min before levodopa treatment （MK-801 group, n=8）. The normal rats received same course and dosage of levodopa as the control group （n=8）. Hybridization in situ was used to measure the expression of PDyn mRNA in striatum. Protein and mRNA levels of total DARPP-32 and phospho-Thr-34 DARPP-32 level were measured by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Results The levels of PDyn mRNA and phospho-Thr-34 DARPP-32 increased significantly in LID rats compared with control rats （P〈0.01）, and they also increased markedly in severe LID group compared with mild group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion Phospho-Thr-34 DARPP-32 level was increased in LID rats, which contributed to the over-activation of direct pathway mediated by dopamine D1 receptor.

M_(4) muscarinic receptors regulates dopamine/DARPP-32 signaling and glutamate transmis⁃sion to balance dopaminergic D1 function in mouse dorsal striatum

OBJECTIVE Abnormal striatal dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmis⁃sion is central to the pathophysiology of schizo⁃phrenia.In this study,we investigated the roles of M4 receptor interplay with D1 signaling in stria⁃tal neurotransmission that affect glutamatergic transmission to control the etiology of neuropsy⁃chiatric disorders.METHODS To study dorsal striatum(DS)region-specific neuronal and behav⁃ioral responses modulated by M4 receptors,we used clustered regularly interspaced short palin⁃dromic repeats-associated protein 9 technology to generate mice lacking M4 in the dorsal stria⁃tum(DS-M4-KD).The M4 positive allosteric modu⁃lator,VU0467154,were used to study the phar⁃macologically profiles with M4 receptor stimula⁃tion in WT mice.Oxotremorine M(Oxo-M),a no subtype-selective muscarinic agonist,was used to show that mAchRs activation,in order to dissect the particular function of M4,in DS-M4-KD mice.Open filed test and forced swim test were used to assess the change of psychiatric-like behav⁃iors.Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect protein levels of phosphory⁃lation site of dopamine-and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 ku(DARPP-32).Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to assess M4-mediated cholinergic inhibition of glutamater⁃gic synaptic input transmission.RESULTS West⁃ern blotting and immunohistochemistry assay showed VU0467154(5 mg·kg-1,ip)promoted phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr75,and atten⁃uated D1-dependent phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr34 within the mouse DS.Consistently,the Oxo-M(4μg,icv)also increased DARPP-32 phosphorylation at site Thr75 to reversed phos⁃phorylation at site Thr34 in WT mice,but not in DS-M4-KD mice.In parallel with altered DARPP-32 responses,VU0467154 or Oxo-M evoked a psychological stress response and reversed D1-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in open field test and force swim tests.However,Oxo-M sup⁃pression of D1-depengdeng behavioral respons⁃es was impaired in DS-M4-KD mice.Whole-cell patch recording showed that VU0467154 or Oxo-M mediated endogenous cholinergic inhibition of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents through M4 receptors,which in turn suppressed D1-depen⁃dent glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the DS.CONCLUSION This study provides evidence for the role of M4 receptors in regulation of dopa⁃mine/DARPP-32 signaling and glutamate respons⁃es in the DS,and therefore modulation of psychi⁃atric behaviors associated with D1 signaling.This results indicate the mechanisms of treatments targeting M4 in psychiatric disorders.