Pitx3 is required for motor activity and for survival of a subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2003 papers
Abstract
Mesencephalic dopaminergic (MesDA) neurons play crucial roles in motor and behavioral processes; their loss in Parkinson's disease (PD) results in striatal dopamine (DA) deficiency and hypokinetic movement disorder. The Pitx3 homeobox gene is expressed in the MesDA system. We now show that only a subset of MesDA neurons express Pitx3 and that in Pitx3-deficient aphakia mice, this subset is progressively lost by apoptosis during fetal (substantia nigra, SN) and postnatal (ventral tegmental area) development, resulting in very low striatal DA and akinesia. Similar to human PD, dorsal SN neurons (which are Pitx3 negative) are spared in mutant mice. Thus, Pitx3 defines a pathway for survival of neurons that are implicated in PD and that are required for spontaneous locomotor activity.
Related Papers
- → Isthmic origin of neurons of the rat substantia nigra(1983)101 cited
- → Method for culturing postnatal substantia nigra as an in vitro model of experimental Parkinson’s disease(2002)26 cited
- → Hemiparkinsonian syndrome due to a cerebral tumor infiltrating the substantia nigra(2000)1 cited
- [Expression of GAP-43 in midbrain ventral tegmental area of morphine withdrawal rats].(2013)
- Expression of GAP-43 in Midbrain Ventral Tegmental Area of Morphine Withdrawal Rats(2013)