Coexistence of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and activated protein-2 alpha in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells

BACKGROUND： Tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-n-methyl transferase expression coexist in Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum. Numerous reports have also been published addressing whether dopamine-beta-hydroxylase （DBH） expression exists in cerebellar Purkinje cells. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the coexistence of DBH and activator protein-2α expression in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cell morphological study was performed at the Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, China in May 2007. MATERIALS： Ten healthy Wistar rats, of either gender, aged 14 weeks, served as experimental animals. Rabbit anti-mouse DBH, goat anti-mouse activator protein-2α and rabbit anti-mouse β-actin （Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., USA）, horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG, FITC-labeled mouse anti-rabbit IgG, and Cy3-labeled mouse anti-goat IgG （Boster, Wuhan, China）, were used in this study. METHODS： Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of DBH or activator protein-2α, with double-label immunofluorescence being employed to determine coexpression of both, in the cerebellum of 5 randomly selected rats. Western blot assay was utilized to determine the expression of DBH and activator protein-2α in the cerebellum of the remaining 5 rats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Expression, localization and coexistence of DBH and activator protein-2α in the cerebellum were measured separately. RESULTS： Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that cerebellar Purkinje cells stained positive for DBH and activator protein-2α. Western blot assay also demonstrated DBH and activator protein-2α expression in the cerebellum. Double-labeling immunofluorescence showed the coexistence of DBH and activator protein-2α in cerebellar Purkinje cells. CONCLUSION： Norepinephrine and activator protein-2α coexist in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells.