RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Trophic Restoration of the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Pathway in Long-Term Carotid Body-Grafted Parkinsonian Rats
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 141
OP 148
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-01-00141.2003
VO 23
IS 1
A1 Juan J. Toledo-Aral
A1 Simón Méndez-Ferrer
A1 Ricardo Pardal
A1 Miriam Echevarrı́a
A1 José López-Barneo
YR 2003
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/1/141.abstract
AB We studied the mechanisms underlying long-term functional recovery of hemiparkinsonian rats grafted intrastriatally with carotid body (CB) cell aggregates. Amelioration of their motor syndrome is a result of the trophic actions of these grafts on the remaining ipsilateral substantia nigra neurons rather than of the release of dopamine from the CB grafts. The grafts maintain a stable morphological appearance and differentiated cell phenotype for the duration of the life of the host. Adult CB expresses high levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the multicomponent GDNF receptor complex. These properties may contribute to the trophic actions of the CB transplants on nigrostriatal neurons and to their extraordinary longevity. We show that CB glomus cells, although highly dopaminergic, are protected from dopamine-mediated oxidative damage because of the absence of the high-affinity dopamine transporter. Thus, intrastriatal CB grafts are uniquely suited for long-term delivery of trophic factors capable of promoting restoration of the nigrostriatal pathway.