INVESTIGADORES
MURER Mario Gustavo
artículos
Título:
A quantitative immunocytochemical study of a G-protein-gated inward rectifier potassium channel (GIRK2) in the weaver mice mesencephalon.
Autor/es:
ADELBRECHT C; MURER MG; LAURITZEN I; LESAGE F; LAZDUNSKI M; AGID Y; RAISMAN-VOZARI R
Revista:
NEUROREPORT
Editorial:
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
Referencias:
Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 1997 vol. 8 p. 979 - 984
ISSN:
0959-4965
Resumen:
It has been suggested that a mutation in a G-protein-gated inward
rectifier K+ channel (GIRK2) is responsible for inducing cell death in
the cerebellum of homozygous weaver (wv/wv) mutant mice. These mice also
display a progressive, massive loss of mesencephalic dopaminergic
neurones. Using an immunocytochemical method, we detected GIRK2-positive
cell bodies and fibres in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) and
the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of control (+/+) mice. Cell counts of
both GIRK2- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurones demonstrated
a marked loss of SNC cell bodies, especially in 12-month-old (12M)
wv/wv mice. A considerable proportion of GIRK2-positive cell bodies were
preserved, however. In addition, no loss of GIRK2-positive neurones was
observed in the VTA of 12M wv/wv mice, despite of a significant
reduction in TH-positive cell bodies. These results suggest that
expression of the mutated channel is not a sufficient condition to
induce cell death in the ventral mesencephalon of the wv/wv mice.