CYTOSKELETAL ALTERATIONS IN DOPAMINEGIC AREAS OF THE CNS AFTER MPTP EXPOSURE

BRUSCO A, RUTOLO D, CALTANA L, ARONNE P, DIVINE B, ALI S

Arica, Chile

Congreso; IV NEUROTOXICITY MEETING: NEUROCHEMICALS MECHANISMS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS; 2009

NEUROTOXICITY SOCIETY

MPTP is a selective dopaminergic neurotoxicant. In this study, we studied the effects of this neurotoxic agent on the dopaminergic system using different cytoskeletal markers. Adult C57 male mice were injected with MPTP (4 x 10 mg/kg, ip) and were perfused 72 hrs after the last injection with 4% paraformaldehyde and 2% glutaraldehyde, post fixed for 4 hrs at 4 ºC. Brains were store at 4 ºC in sucrose 5%. 50 um thick sections were obtained in vibratome. Brain sections were immunostained using antibodies to gliofibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, the main cytoskeletal astrocytic protein); microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2, expressed mainly in dendrites); 200 kDa neurofilaments (NF-200). We studied by image analysis compact and reticular Substantia Nigra areas, motor cortex and striatum. We observed the astrocytic cell area (GFAP+cells) increased. The relative area of MAP-2+ and NF-200+ fibers decreased significatively in most studied areas. In conclusion, these results suggest that MPTP treatment produce cytoskeletal alterations in neuronal and astroglial cell. ANPCYT (PICT 31964); UBACyT M-004.