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Reduced expression of dopamine D2 receptors on astrocytes in R6/1 HD mice and HD post-mortem tissue.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Harris, Kate L 
Mason, Sarah L 
Vallin, Benjamin 
Barker, Roger A 

Abstract

Dysfunction of the central dopaminergic system is thought to contribute to some of the clinical features of Huntington's disease (HD), and dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists are commonly used to good effect in its treatment. It is well established that there is an early significant reduction in neuronal D2 receptors in HD, considered to be a compensatory response to increased dopaminergic activity. However, no studies have examined the expression of D2 receptors on astrocytes which is important given that these cells have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of HD, as well as express dopamine receptors and modulate DA homeostasis in the normal brain. We therefore sought to investigate the expression of D2 receptors on astrocytes in HD, and found them to be reduced in both the R6/1 HD mouse model, and in human post-mortem brain in comparison to controls, suggesting that astrocytes may be important in DA-dependent aspects of HD. Further studies are needed to determine the functional significance of this finding.

Description

Keywords

Astrocytes, Dopamine, Dopamine D2 receptor, Dopamine receptors, Huntington’s disease, Neurodegeneration, Neuroscience, Aged, Animals, Astrocytes, Autopsy, Female, Gliosis, Hippocampus, Humans, Huntington Disease, Male, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Middle Aged, Receptors, Dopamine D2

Journal Title

Neurosci Lett

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0304-3940
1872-7972

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health and Care Research (IS-BRC-1215-20014)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17230)
Medical Research Council (MR/R015724/1)
This research was supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215-20014). Human post-mortem tissue was obtained from the Cambridge Brain Bank. The Cambridge Brain Bank is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care'. RAB was a NIHR Senior Investigator