Increased DMT1 expression and iron content in MPTP-treated C57BL/6 mice.
- Author:
Hong JIANG
1
;
Zhong-Ming QIAN
;
Jun-Xia XIE
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Neuroscience Center of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266021.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Animals;
Cation Transport Proteins;
metabolism;
Dopamine;
metabolism;
Iron;
metabolism;
Iron-Binding Proteins;
metabolism;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Parkinsonian Disorders;
metabolism;
Protein Isoforms;
metabolism;
Substantia Nigra;
metabolism;
Transferrin;
metabolism
- From:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
2003;55(5):571-576
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Iron plays a key role in Parkinson s disease (PD). To illustrate the mechanism underlying the increase of iron in substantia nigra (SN) in PD, changes of the expression of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and iron content were examined in SN in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treated mice using immunohistochemistry and histochemistry respectively. Following MPTP treatment for 3 d, elevated iron staining was found in SN. A further increase in iron content was observed after 7 d. In these lesioned animals, tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive DA neurons exhibited a decrease in number and morphological changes as well. There were two isoforms of DMT1 expressed in SN of mice. After MPTP treatment, the expression of DMT1 without IRE form increased in either group, whereas DMT1 with IRE form increased only after 7 d of MPTP treatment. These observations suggest that DMT1 is possibly involved in the process of iron accumulation in SN of MPTP-treated mice, which might be responsible for the subsequent death of DA neurons.