Presynaptic Dopamine Autoreceptors Control Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activation in Depolarized Striatal Dopaminergic Terminals

The possible control of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity by dopaminergic receptor-dependent mechanisms was investigated using rat striatal slices or synaptosomes incubated in the presence of various 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine or DA) agonists and antagonists. Under "normal" conditions (4.8 mM K+ in the incubating medium), the DA agonists apomorphine, 6,7-dihydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-2-aminotetralin (TL-99), 7-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT), Trans-(-)-4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9-octahydro-5-propyl-2H-pyrazolo-3,4- quinoline, and 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine decreased TH activity in soluble extracts of incubated tissues. In the case of the catechol-containing drugs apomorphine and TL-99, this effect was partly due to a direct inhibition of the enzyme, but in all other cases it appeared to depend on the stimulation of presynaptic DA autoreceptors. No effect of DA antagonists was detected on TH activity under "normal" conditions. In contrast, when tissues were incubated in a K+ -enriched (60 mM) medium, (-)-sulpiride and other DA antagonists enhanced TH activation due to depolarization whereas DA agonists were ineffective. Because (-)-sulpiride also increased the enzyme activity in striatal slices exposed to drugs inducing release of DA, such as veratridine and d-amphetamine, it is concluded that the stimulating effect of the DA antagonist resulted in fact from the blockade of the negative control of TH normally triggered by endogenous DA acting on presynaptic autoreceptors. In contrast to TH activation due to K+ -induced depolarization, the activation evoked by tissue incubation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP was unaffected by the typical agonist 7-OH-DPAT or the antagonist (-)-sulpiride. This would suggest that TH control via presynaptic DA autoreceptors normally concerns possible modulations of the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme.     

Dopamine Autoreceptors Modulate the Phosphorylation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Rat Striatal Slices

The hypothesis that dopamine (DA) autoreceptors modulate the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; EC 1.14.16.2) was investigated in rat striatal slices. Tissue was prelabeled with 32P inorganic phosphate, and TH recovered by immunoprecipitation with anti-TH rabbit serum. The TH monomer was resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, and the extent of phosphorylation was determined by scanning densitometry of autoradiographs. Depolarization of striatal slices with 55 mM K+ markedly increased the incorporation of 32P into several proteins, including the TH monomer (Mr = 60,000). A similar increase in TH phosphorylation occurred in response to the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and the cyclic AMP analog dibutyryl cyclic AMP. An increase in TH phosphorylation was not observed in response to the D1-selective agonist SKF 38393. The D2-selective DA autoreceptor agonist pergolide decreased the phosphorylation of TH below basal levels and blocked the increase in phosphorylation elicited by 55 mM K+. The inhibitory effect of pergolide was antagonized by the D2-selective antagonist eticlopride. Changes observed in the phosphorylation of TH were mirrored by changes in tyrosine hydroxylation in situ. These observations support the hypothesis that a reduction in TH phosphorylation is the mechanism by which DA autoreceptors modulate tyrosine hydroxylation in nigrostriatal nerve terminals.     

A Transgenic Mouse Model to Study Transsynaptic Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression

Abstract: Previous studies demonstrated that 9 kb of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) 5' flanking sequence directed appropriate spatiotemporal expression of a lacZ reporter gene to catecholaminergic cells in the CNS of transgenic mice. In the present study, specificity of transgene expression was further extended to demonstrate cell type-specific functional regulation of lacZ expression using manipulations known to alter endogenous TH expression. Alterations in lacZ reporter expression should parallel changes in endogenous TH levels if the DNA elements mediating these functional changes of TH expression in vivo reside within the 9 kb of the TH promoter region. Naris closure induced an activity-dependent decrease of TH expression in dopaminergic periglomerular cells in the olfactory bulb that was paralleled by down-regulation of lacZ expression in the transgenic mice. Densitometry and image analysis were used to quantify lacZ expression following acute reserpine administration (5 mg/kg, s.c.), which up-regulates endogenous TH. At 48 h postinjection, analysis of OD values indicated a significant increase of X-gal staining in the locus coeruleus and ventral tegmental area but not in the substantia nigra or olfactory bulb of reserpine-treated transgenic animals. These data showed that the 9-kb sequence also mediates cell type-specific transsynaptic regulation of reporter gene expression. Analysis of this transgenic animal offers a useful model system to study in vivo regulation of TH gene expression.     

Clonidine Suppresses 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Induced Reductions of Striatal Dopamine and Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity in Mice

Abstract: Recent findings have shown that excitatory amino acid may be involved in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. At the same time, evidence is accumulating that the endogenous nor-adrenergic system plays a protective role in MPTP-induced striatal dopamine (DA) depletion and nigral dopaminergic cell death. Recently, α₂-adrenoceptors located on glutamatergic axons have been shown to inhibit glutamate overflow. In this study, we evaluated the effects of an α₂-agonist (clonidine) and an α₂-antagonist (yohimbine) on MPTP-induced striatal DA depletion and tyrosine hydroxylase activity reduction. We show that clonidine is able to prevent the neurotoxicity of MPTP in mice. To exert this effect, clonidine (0.5 mg/kg) must be administered at least twice (30 min before and 30 min after MPTP). Administration of another α₂-agonist (detomidine, 0.3 mg/kg) attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by MPTP. We provide evidence that the protective effect obtained with clonidine was not due to decreased striatal content of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺). We also show that yohimbine, which is a classic α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist with low affinity for imidazoline receptors, produced by itself an enhancement of MPTP toxicity and was able to block the protective effect of clonidine. These data raise the possibility that α₂-adrenoceptor may modulate the susceptibility of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway to neurotoxicity.     

小鼠酪氨酸羟化酶启动子序列分析

目的对小鼠酪氨酸羟化酶（tyrosine hydroxylase,TH）启动子进行序列分析,研究启动子不同区域对下游基因表达调控能力。方法高保真PCR分别扩增出450、1500、2000、2400、3400bp TH启动子片段置换pcDNA3中CMV启动子,并在多克隆位点插入EGFP报告基因,重组后质粒分别瞬时转染MN-9D细胞（TH^＋）和ECV细胞（TH^-）,流式细胞仪观察EGFP基因在细胞内表达情况。结果转染后MN-9D细胞中EGFP阳性率分别为8.01%、7.97%、7.85%、7.72%、7.74%,差异无显著性。转染ECV细胞（TH^-）中,EGFP阳性率分别为6.51%、6.35%、6.71%、0.89%、1.02%。3400bp、2400bp启动子片段在TH^-细胞中调控能力受到明显抑制。结论上述启动子片段均有调控基因表达能力,初步证明TH启动子中特异性调控区域在2400-2000bp范围内。     

Isolation and Characterization of Ovine Tyrosine Hydroxylase mRNA

Abstract: Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) cDNA has been characterized in rodents and primates, but only a few studies have been developed in ungulates, except in cows. Because sheep is a species used for many physiological studies, it was of interest to clone TH cDNA in this species. Ovine TH cDNA was purified from a library of sheep adrenal glands. The entire cDNA was 1,721 bp long. It presented a higher percentage of similarity with bovine TH cDNA (93%) than with rodent cDNAs (75%). The deduced amino acid sequence was 490 amino acids long and had 96% similarity with the bovine amino acid sequence. The entire cDNA and different fragments obtained with endonuclease restriction enzymes were cloned in plasmid pUC 18 and were labeled with ³⁵S-dATP to detect TH mRNA by in situ hybridization. Strong labelings were observed on adrenal medulla and on noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons in the sheep but also in the cow and pig. This labeling matched completely TH immunohistochemical staining obtained on the same sections with anti-TH antibodies. Ovine TH cDNA is a useful tool to study the variations of TH mRNA levels in sheep catecholaminergic neurons.     

Short-term Effects of Endothelins on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity and Expression in the Olfactory Bulb of Normotensive Rats

The olfactory system in rats is part of the limbic region with extensive afferent connections with brain areas involved in the regulation of behaviour and autonomic responses. The existence of the endothelin system and catecholaminergic neurons in the olfactory bulb suggests that endothelins may modulate noradrenergic transmission and diverse olfactory mediated processes. In the present work we studied the effect of endothelin-1 and -3 on neuronal norepinephrine release and the short-term regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the olfactory bulb. Results showed that both endothelins increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity through the activation of a non-conventional endothelin G-protein coupled receptor, coupled to the stimulation of protein kinase A and C, as well as Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. On the other hand, neither endothelin-1 nor endothelin-3 modified tyrosine hydroxylase total protein levels, but both peptides increased the phosphorylation of serine residues of the enzyme at sites 19 and 40. Furthermore, endothelins enhanced norepinephrine release in olfactory neurons suggesting that this event may contribute to increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity by reducing the feedback inhibition. Taken together present findings show a clear interaction between the endothelin system, and the catecholaminergic transmission in the olfactory bulb. Additional studies are required to evaluate the physiological functions regulated by endothelins at this brain level.     

酪氨酸羟化酶在成年大鼠胰腺中的定位

目的:酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)是儿茶酚胺类递质合成的限速梅,儿茶酚胺类递质对胰腺内分泌细胞的功能具有重要的调控作用,本研究拟探讨酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)在成年大鼠整个胰腺的具体定位和表达.方法:取雄性成年大鼠胰腺,冰冻组织切片,应用免疫荧光技术观察酪氨酸羟化酶在整个胰腺中的表达分布情况,并进一步运用免疫荧光双标技术鉴定酪氨酸羟化酶是否与胰岛素、胰高血糖素、生长抑素以及胰多肽分别共定位于β细胞;α细胞;δ细胞及PP细胞,进一步确定合成酪氨酸羟化酶确切的细胞类型.结果:①在胰腺腺泡细胞胞浆中存在酪氨酸羟化酶的阳性表达颗粒.②分布于胰腺外分泌腺的神经纤维和胰岛的神经纤维中都有酪氨酸羟化酶的表达.③酪氨酸羟化酶与胰岛的四种内分泌细胞所合成的肽之间均没有共定位关系.结论:在胰腺,酪氨酸羟化酶只存在于胰腺外分泌腺的腺泡细胞胞浆内以及胰腺中的神经纤维中,而胰岛四种内分泌细胞中没有酪氨酸羟化酶,说明胰腺儿茶酚胺类神经递质一方面由胰腺外分泌部的腺泡细胞合成,另一方面来源于神经末梢的释放,而胰岛细胞不能合成儿茶酚胺类递质;该结果为进一步研究胰腺内、外分泌部之间的关系和儿茶酚胺对胰腺分泌功能的调节提供形态学证据.     

Unsupervised Learning and Adaptation in a Model of Adult Neurogenesis

Adult neurogenesis has long been documented in the vertebrate brain and recently even in humans. Although it has been conjectured for many years that its functional role is related to the renewing of memories, no clear mechanism as to how this can be achieved has been proposed. Using the mammalian olfactory bulb as a paradigm, we present a scheme in which incorporation of new neurons proceeds at a constant rate, while their survival is activity-dependent and thus contingent on new neurons establishing suitable connections. We show that a simple mathematical model following these rules organizes its activity so as to maximize the difference between its responses and can adapt to changing environmental conditions in unsupervised fashion, in agreement with current neurophysiological data.     

Effects of Phospholipases on the Kinetic Properties of Rat Striatal Membrane-Bound Tyrosine Hydroxylase

Abstract: Rat striatal tyrosine hydroxylase can be isolated in both a soluble and a synaptic membrane-bound form. The membrane-bound enzyme, which exhibits lower K _ms for both tyrosine (7 μ M ) and reduced pterin cofactor (110 μ M ) relative to the soluble enzyme (47 μ M and 940 μ M , respectively), can be released from the membrane fraction with mild detergent, and concomitantly its kinetic properties revert to those of the soluble enzyme. Treatment of membrane-bound tyrosine hydroxylase with C. perfringens phospholipase C increased the K _m of the enzyme for tyrosine to 27 μ M and the V _max by 60% without changing the K _m for cofactor. In contrast, treatment of membrane-bound tyrosine hydroxylase with V. russelli phospholipase A₂ increased the K _m for tyrosine to 48 μ M increased the V _max and increased the K _m for cofactor to 560 μ M . The enzyme remained bound to the membrane fraction following both phospholipase treatments. Addition of phospholipids to treated enzyme could partially reverse the effects of phospholipase A₂ treatment, but not the effects of phospholipase C treatment. The kinetic properties of phospholipase-treated, detergent-solubilized tyrosine hydroxylase were identical to those of the control solubilized enzyme. Tyrosine hydroxylase appears to interact with synaptic membrane components to produce at least two separately determined consequences for the kinetic properties of the enzyme.     

Mating Increases Neuronal Tyrosine Hydroxylase Expression and Selectively Gates Transmission of Male Chemosensory Information in Female Mice

Exposure to chemosensory signals from unfamiliar males can terminate pregnancy in recently mated female mice. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the main olfactory bulb has been found to increase following mating and has been implicated in preventing male-induced pregnancy block during the post-implantation period. In contrast, pre-implantation pregnancy block is mediated by the vomeronasal system, and is thought to be prevented by selective inhibition of the mate’s pregnancy blocking chemosignals, at the level of the accessory olfactory bulb. The objectives of this study were firstly to identify the level of the vomeronasal pathway at which selective inhibition of the mate’s pregnancy blocking chemosignals occurs. Secondly, to determine whether a post-mating increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons is observed in the vomeronasal system, which could play a role in preventing pre-implantation pregnancy block. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that mating induced an increase in tyrosine-hydroxylase positive neurons in the arcuate hypothalamus of BALB/c females, and suppressed c-Fos expression in these neurons in response to mating male chemosignals. This selective suppression of c-Fos response to mating male chemosignals was not apparent at earlier levels of the pregnancy-blocking neural pathway in the accessory olfactory bulb or corticomedial amygdala. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the accessory olfactory bulb of BALB/c female mice following mating. However, increased dopamine-mediated inhibition in the accessory olfactory bulb is unlikely to account for the prevention of pregnancy block to the mating male, as tyrosine hydroxylase expression did not increase in females of the C57BL/6 strain, which show normal mate recognition. These findings reveal an association of mating with increased dopaminergic modulation in the pregnancy block pathway and support the hypothesis that mate recognition prevents pregnancy block by suppressing the activation of arcuate dopamine release.     

Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Dopamine β-Hydroxylase mRNA Levels in Rat Adrenals by a Single and Repeated Immobilization Stress

Adrenal catecholamines are known to mediate many of the physiological consequences of the "fight or flight" response to stress. However, the mechanisms by which the long-term responses to repeated stress are mediated are less well understood and possibly involve alterations in gene expression. In this study the effects of a single and repeated immobilization stress on mRNA levels of the adrenal catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase, were examined. A repeated 2-hr daily immobilization for 7 consecutive days markedly elevated both tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase mRNA levels (about six- and fourfold, respectively). In contrast, tyrosine hydroxylase but not dopamine beta-hydroxylase mRNA levels were elevated immediately following a single immobilization. The elevation in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA with a single immobilization was as high as with seven daily repeated immobilizations. This elevation was not sustained and returned toward control values 24 hr later. Both tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase mRNA levels were elevated immediately following two daily immobilizations to levels similar to those observed after seven immobilizations and were maintained 24 hr later. The results indicate that both tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase mRNA levels are elevated by stress; however, the mechanism and/or timing of their regulation are not identical.     

Tyrosine Hydroxylase Is Inactivated by Catechol-Quinones and Converted to a Redox-Cycling Quinoprotein

Quinone derivatives of DOPA, dopamine, and N-acetyldopamine inactivate tyrosine hydroxylase, the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the catecholamine neurotransmitters. The parent catechols are inert in this capacity. The effects of the catecholquinones on tyrosine hydroxylase are prevented by antioxidants and reducing reagents but not by scavengers of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, or superoxide radicals. Quinone modification of tyrosine hydroxylase modifies enzyme sulfhydryl groups and results in the formation of cysteinyl-catechols within the enzyme. Catecholquinones convert tyrosine hydroxylase to a redox-cycling quinoprotein. Quinotyrosine hydroxylase causes the reduction of the transition metals iron and copper and may therefore contribute to Fenton-like reactions and oxidative stress in neurons. The discovery that a phenotypic marker for catecholamine neurons can be converted into a redox-active species is highly relevant for neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease.     

Influence of Calcium on Dopamine Synthesis and Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity in Rat Striatum

Abstract: We have investigated three aspects of the relationship between calcium and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in rat striatum. In the first series of experiments, we examined the hypothesis that the rise in dopamine synthesis during increased impulse flow results from a calcium-induced activation of tyrosine hydroxylase. Calcium (12.5–200 μ M ) had no effect when added to crude enzyme or enzyme partially purified by gel filtration. Moreover, incubation of synaptosomes with excess calcium (up to 3.5 m M ) had little or no effect on dopamine synthesis. Incubation with the depolarizing alkaloid veratridine (75 μ M ) did increase dopamine synthesis, but did not alter the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase subsequently prepared from the synaptosomes, despite the presumed rise in intracellular calcium. In the second series we examined the hypothesis that increased dopamine synthesis after axotomy results from activation of tyrosine hydroxylase owing to a decrease in intracellular calcium. Addition of the calcium chelator EGTA (100 μ M ) to crude or partially purified enzyme was without effect, whereas incubation of synaptosomes with EGTA (500 μM ) decreased cell-free enzyme activity. In the third experimental series we examined the relationship between calcium and activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. EGTA failed to alter the increase in the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase prepared from synaptosomes incubated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP. However, it blocked the increase in synaptosomal dopamine synthesis and dopamine content normally produced by the cyclic AMP analogue. Thus, tyrosine hydroxylase does not appear to be activated by either increases or decreases in calcium availability. However, calcium may be important for the maintenance of basal tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and may play an indirect role in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase activation produced by other means.     

Calcium, ATP, and Magnesium Activate Soluble Tyrosine Hydroxylase from Rat Striatum

Soluble tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) prepared from rat striatum by sonication, centrifugation, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 was activated by preincubation with Ca2+, ATP, and Mg2+. Activation occurred with micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ and required the presence of both ATP and Mg2+. The activation was reversible and was characterized by a large decrease of apparent Km for the pteridine cofactor and a small increase of Vmax. Ca2+-induced activation was small when TH activity was assayed at pH values near the optimum, but the magnitude of the activation increased with increasing assay pH. The activation apparently did not involve Ca2+-activated protease because it was not affected by the protease inhibitor leupeptin. Nor did it involve cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, as evidenced by the failure of the heat-stable inhibitor of this kinase to decrease Ca2+-induced TH activation. Furthermore, the activation of TH evoked by Ca2+ and that produced by cyclic AMP was additive. These experiments indicate that striatal TH can be activated in vitro by an endogenous Ca2+-dependent mechanism. The similarity of the Ca2+-induced activation of TH to that elicited by increased neuronal activity and terminal depolarization is discussed.     

Tyrosine Hydroxylase mRNA Expression by Dopaminergic Neurons in Culture: Effect of 1 -Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Treatment

To enable us to study expression of tyrosine hydroxylase [TH; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; L-tyrosine tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating); EC 1.14.16.2] as a measure of dopaminergic neuron function in future experiments, methods were developed to quantify TH mRNA levels in cultures of dopaminergic mesencephalic cells. The model of selective dopaminergic toxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) was used to verify the specificity of our methods. Fetal (embryonic day 15) rat ventral mesencephalic cell cultures were treated with 15 microM MPP+ for 48 h, conditions previously shown to reduce the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons, TH activity, and dopamine uptake to 5-10% of control values. This treatment decreased the number of neurons labeled by TH in situ hybridization to 9% of untreated controls and caused a strong reduction of the abundance of TH mRNA in Northern blots. Our findings establish TH mRNA expression as a parameter for future studies of toxic and trophic effects on cultured dopaminergic neurons, and they support the view that MPP+ destroys dopaminergic neurons.     

Altered Dopamine Receptor and Dopamine Transporter Binding and Tyrosine Hydroxylase mRNA Expression Following Perinatal NMDA Receptor Blockade

This study examined how perinatal phencyclidine (PCP) treatment would affect dopamine D2 receptor and dopamine transporter (DAT) binding at different stages after treatment cessation. Female rat pups received injections of PCP (10 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline on postnatal day (PN)7, 9 and 11. D2 receptor and transporter binding was examined at four time-points (PN12, 18, 32 and 96) following injections. PCP treatment altered D2 receptor binding throughout development, with a final end-point of 22-33% decreased binding at adulthood in the nucleus accumbens and caudate putamen (P < 0.01), accompanied by a small but significant increase in DAT binding in the caudate putamen. Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression was also significantly increased by 25% (P < 0.05) in the ventral tegmental area of adult rats, suggesting that this model may produce a long-term increase in dopamine output. This study demonstrates that early insult to the brain from NMDA receptor hypofunction alters the dopaminergic system at different stages of development.