Characterization of fetal antigen 1/delta-like 1 homologue expressing cells in the rat nigrostriatal system: effects of a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion.

Liechti, Rémy; Ducray, Angélique; Jensen, Pia; Di Santo, Stefano; Seiler, Stefanie; Jensen, Charlotte H; Meyer, Morten; Widmer, Hans Rudolf (2015). Characterization of fetal antigen 1/delta-like 1 homologue expressing cells in the rat nigrostriatal system: effects of a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. PLoS ONE, 10(2), e0116088. Public Library of Science 10.1371/journal.pone.0116088

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Fetal antigen 1/delta-like 1 homologue (FA1/dlk1) belongs to the epidermal growth factor superfamily and is considered to be a non-canonical ligand for the Notch receptor. Interactions between Notch and its ligands are crucial for the development of various tissues. Moreover, FA1/dlk1 has been suggested as a potential supplementary marker of dopaminergic neurons. The present study aimed at investigating the distribution of FA1/dlk1-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the early postnatal and adult midbrain as well as in the nigrostriatal system of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned hemiparkinsonian adult rats. FA1/dlk1-ir cells were predominantly distributed in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (SNc) and in the ventral tegmental area. Interestingly, the expression of FA1/dlk1 significantly increased in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-ir cells during early postnatal development. Co-localization and tracing studies demonstrated that FA1/dlk1-ir cells in the SNc were nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, and unilateral 6-OHDA lesions resulted in loss of both FA1/dlk1-ir and TH-ir cells in the SNc. Surprisingly, increased numbers of FA1/dlk1-ir cells (by 70%) were detected in dopamine-depleted striata as compared to unlesioned controls. The higher number of FA1/dlk1-ir cells was likely not due to neurogenesis as colocalization studies for proliferation markers were negative. This suggests that FA1/dlk1 was up-regulated in intrinsic cells in response to the 6-OHDA-mediated loss of FA1/dlk1-expressing SNc dopaminergic neurons and/or due to the stab wound. Our findings hint to a significant role of FA1/dlk1 in the SNc during early postnatal development. The differential expression of FA1/dlk1 in the SNc and the striatum of dopamine-depleted rats could indicate a potential involvement of FA1/dlk1 in the cellular response to the degenerative processes.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurosurgery

UniBE Contributor:

Ducray, Angélique, Di Santo, Stefano, Seiler, Stefanie, Widmer, Hans Rudolf

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1932-6203

Publisher:

Public Library of Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Nicole Söll

Date Deposited:

15 Apr 2016 11:17

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:55

Publisher DOI:

10.1371/journal.pone.0116088

PubMed ID:

25723595

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.81169

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/81169

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