Expression of an heparin-binding growth associated molecule (pleitrophin) by striatal interneurons and nigral dopaminergic neurons.

TARAVINI IRE; FERRARIO JE; DELBE J; GINESTET L; COURTY J; MURER MG; GERSHANIK OS; RAISMAN-VPZARI R

BRAIN RESEARCH

Elsevier

Año: 2005 vol. 1066 p. 196 - 200

0006-8993

Pleiotrophin (PTN), a developmentally-regulated trophic factor, is over-expressed in the striatum of parkinsonian rats. Because striatal PTN can provide trophic support to dopamine neurons, we identified the cellular types containing PTN in the striatum of adult rats. By means of fluorescent double-immunolabeling, we found PTN to co-localize with a neuronal nuclei marker but not with glial fibrillary acidic protein. The number, distribution, and morphology of the PTN-immunolabeled cells suggested that they were interneurons. Further doubleimmunolabeling studies ruled out PTN localization to calretinin- and parvalbumin-containing interneurons. Instead, ¨40% of the PTNimmunolabeled neurons contained nitric oxide synthase or somatostatin and ¨60% expressed the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, supporting that they were GABAergic nitric oxide synthase/somatostatin-containing and cholinergic interneurons. Further work is necessary to determine if PTN from striatal interneurons can provide trophic support to dopamine neurons.