Decreased messenger RNA expression of key markers of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system following vitamin E deficiency in the rat

• Published in: Neuroscience 2000-01, Vol.101 (4), p.1029-1036
• Main Authors: Romero-Ramos, M, Venero, J.L, Santiago, M, Rodriguez-Gómez, J.A, Vizuete, M.L, Cano, J, Machado, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Corpus Striatum - physiology; Dopamine - physiology; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; dopaminergic system; Female; free radicals; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins; Membrane Transport Proteins; Mesencephalon - metabolism; Metabolic diseases; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...); Oxidation-Reduction; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; substantia nigra; Substantia Nigra - physiology; Time Factors; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - genetics; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - metabolism; tyrosine hydroxylase; Vitamin E Deficiency - metabolism
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4522(00)00424-3

We have evaluated the effect of a vitamin E-deficient diet on the rat nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. After 15 days of deficient diet, the amount and activity of striatal and nigral tyrosine hydroxylase increased, which contrasted with a decreased messenger RNA expression for tyrosine hydroxylase and the dopamine transporter in the ventral mesencephalon. When we prolonged the deficiency of vitamin E for 30 days, dopamine levels did not differ in both areas. In contrast, messenger RNA levels for tyrosine hydroxylase and the dopamine transporter were markedly reduced in 30-day deficient rats. In addition, the number of oxidatively modified proteins significantly increased in the striatal and nigral areas studied. Overall, we propose that these changes suggest an important role of vitamin E in maintaining the normal equilibrium of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system.