Effects of Fetal Nondopaminergic Cortical Tissue Transplantation in the Rat Parkinsonian Model

Chang, Jin Woo; Chung, Sang Sup

Abstract

Fetal dopaminergic or nondopaminergic cortical tissues were implanted directly into the denervated striatum of partial lesioned rat parkinsonian models. After transplantation, at rats were behaviourally tested with apomorphine and sacrificed for tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemical stain. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1) Of 45 rats partially lesioned with 6-hydroxydopamine, 17 rats(37.8%) met a criteria(a minimum of 4 times/min to apomorphine-induced rotation test) of the rat parkinsonian model. 2) Eight weeks after transplantation of the fetal dopaminergic tissues into the striatum of the rat parkinsonian model, transplanted dopaminergic cells were found to be alive. Also reinnervated dopaminergic fibers were found in the previously denervated striatum. And the behavioural study suggested that the transplantation of the fetal dopaminergic neurons had influenced on the apomorphine-induced rotation. 3) Eight weeks after transplantation of the fetal nondopaminergic tissues into the striatum of the rat parkinsonian model, dopaminergic cells were not found in the previously denervated striatum. However, reinnervation of the dopaminergic fibers were found in the preciously denervated striatum. However, reinnervation of the dopaminergic fibers were found in the previously denervated striatum as well as the reduction of the apomorphine-induced rotation compared to the pregraft state. The major finding of this study support a trophic hypothesis for the mechanism of recovery in response to fetal dopaminergic or nondopaminergic tissue. The author conclude that fetal nondopaminergic tissue also had some beneficial effect in reducing apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry probably by promoting recovery or sprouting of remaining dopaminergic fibers at the previously denervated striatum of the rat parkinsonian model.