Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by degeneration of the striatum. Here, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes was used to uncover regional differences in dopamine (DA) release in the caudate putamen of R6/2 and wild-type control mice. We found a decreasing ventral-to-dorsal gradient in DA release, evoked by a single electrical stimulus pulse, in aged R6/2 mice. Moreover, under more intense stimulation conditions (120 pulses), DA release was significantly attenuated in the dorsal, but not in the ventral caudate. Autoradiography measurements using [3H]WIN 35,428 revealed that the overall density of DA transporter (DAT) protein molecules was significantly less in R6/2 mice compared to WT control mice; however, quadrants of the caudate putamen were not differentially altered in the R6/2 mice. These data collectively suggest that DA release in the dorsal caudate region is more vulnerable with age progression compared to the ventral region.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call