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Mesencephalic origin of the rostral Substantia nigra pars reticulata.

ABSTRACT: In embryonic development, the neurons that will constitute a heterogeneous nucleus may have distinct origins. The different components of these populations reach their final location by radial and tangential migrations. The Substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) presents a high level of neuronal heterogeneity. It is composed by GABAergic neurons located in the mes-diencephalic basal plate. These inhibitory neurons usually display tangential migrations and it has been already described that the caudal SNR is colonized tangentially from rhombomere 1. Our aim is to unveil the origin of the rostral SNR. We have localized a Nkx6.2 positive ventricular domain located in the alar midbrain. Nkx6.2 derivatives' fate map analysis showed mainly a rostral colonization of this GABAergic neuronal population. We confirmed the mesencephalic origin by the expression of Six3. Both transcription factors are sequentially expressed along the differentiation of these neurons. We demonstrated the origin of the rostral SNR; our data allowed us to postulate that this nucleus is composed by two neuronal populations distributed in opposite gradients with different origins, one from rhombomere 1, caudal to rostral, and the other from the midbrain, rostral to caudal. We can conclude that the SNR has multiple origins and follows complex mechanisms of specification and migration. Our results support vital information for the study of genetic modifications in these extremely complex processes that result in devastating behavioral alterations and predisposition to psychiatric diseases. Understanding the development, molecular identity and functional characteristics of these diverse neuronal populations might lead to better diagnosis and treatment of several forms of neurological and psychiatric disease.

SUBMITTER: Madrigal MP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819793 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), where the basal ganglia (BG) direct and indirect pathways converge, contains among the highest expression of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1r) in the brain. Hence, SNr is an ideal locus to study pathway interactions and cannabinergic modulations. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of systemic injections of the CB1r agonist (CP55940) on the balanced activity of the direct/indirect pathways in the SNr and its associated behaviors. To this aim, we recorded somatosensory and pathway-specific representations in the spiking activity of the SNr of male rats under CP55940. CB1r activation mainly decreased the inhibitory, potentially direct pathway component while sparing the excitatory, potentially indirect pathway component of somatosensory responses. As a result, cutaneous stimulation produced unbalanced responses favoring increased SNr firing rates, suggesting a potential locus for cannabinergic motor-related effects. To test this hypothesis, we implemented an ad hoc behavioral protocol for rats in which systemic administration of CP55940 produced kinematic impairments that were completely reverted by nigral injections of the CB1r antagonist (AM251). Our data suggest that cannabinoid-related motor effects are associated with unbalanced direct/indirect pathway activations that may be reverted by CB1r manipulation at the SNr.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cannabinergic system has been the target of multiple studies to master its potential use as a therapeutic agent. However, significant advances have been precluded by the lack of mechanistic explanations for the variety of its desirable/undesirable effects. Here, we have combined electrophysiological recordings, pharmacological and optogenetic manipulations, and an ad hoc behavioral protocol to understand how basal ganglia (BG) is affected by cannabinoids. We found that cannabinoids principally affect inhibitory inputs, potentially from the direct pathway, resulting in unbalanced responses in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and suggesting a mechanism for the cannabinoid-related slowness of movements. This possibility was confirmed by behavioral experiments in which cannabinoid-related slowness of purposeful movements was reverted by cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1r) manipulations directly into the SNr.

Project description:ObjectiveGenetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) show a resistance to secondary generalization of focal limbic seizures evoked by kindling. The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) is involved in the propagation and modulation of seizures in kindling. We first examined the role of the SNRanterior and SNRposterior subregions in the resistance to the development of kindling in GAERS. Subsequently, to determine whether kindling resistance relates to differential sensitivity of γ-aminobutyric acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic or dopaminergic SNR neurons to kindling, we studied the effects of kindling-inducing stimulations on parvalbumin (PRV; GABAergic neuron marker) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; dopaminergic neuron marker) immunoreactivity (ir), respectively, in GAERS and in nonepileptic control (NEC) Wistar rats that lack kindling resistance.MethodsAdult male GAERS were implanted with a stimulation electrode in the amygdala, and bilateral injection cannulas for lidocaine or saline injection (30 min before each kindling stimulation until the animals reached three stage 5 seizures or the 22 stimulations) into the SNRanterior or SNRposterior . In another experiment, PRV-ir in SNRanterior and SNRposterior and TH-ir in SNRposterior only were densitometrically compared in GAERS-SHAM, NEC-SHAM GAERS-STIM, and NEC-STIM animals (6 kindling stimulations).ResultsBilateral SNRposterior infusions of lidocaine eliminated the kindling resistance and resulted in stage 5 generalized motor seizures in all kindled rats. Bilateral lidocaine infusions in the SNRanterior failed to alter the kindling resistance in GAERS. PRV-ir in the SNRposterior was unaltered in GAERS-STIM but increased in NEC-STIM group. Cellular TH-ir in the SNRposterior significantly increased by kindling stimulations in both NEC-STIM and GAERS-STIM groups.SignificanceThe kindling resistance in GAERS is mediated by the SNRposterior in a lidocaine-sensitive manner. The insensitivity to kindling stimulation of PRV-ir in SNRposterior of GAERS but not NEC rats, implicate GABAergic SNRposterior neurons in kindling resistance. In contrast, the observed stimulation-specific increase in TH-ir in the SNRposterior is unrelated to kindling resistance.

Project description:BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Increased firing of the glutamatergic pathway between the subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) contributes to the abnormal firing of motor circuits and subsequent motor deficits seen in Parkinson's disease. Broad spectrum agonist-induced activation of presynaptic group III metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors within the SNpr reduced glutamate release and reversed akinesia in the reserpine-treated rat model of Parkinson's disease. Here, we have sought to identify which subtypes of group III mGlu receptor in the SNpr were responsible for these beneficial effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The ability of the mGlu(4) positive allosteric modulator, N-phenyl-7-(hydroxyminocyclopropa[b]chromen-1a-carboxamide) (PHCCC), the mGlu(7) allosteric agonist, N,N'-dibenzhydrylethane-1,2-diamine dihydrochloride (AMN082) and the mGlu(8) -selective agonist (S)-3,4-dicarboxyphenylglycine [(S)-3,4-DCPG] to inhibit KCl-evoked [(3) H]-D-aspartate release was examined in vitro in rat nigral prisms. Reversal of akinesia in reserpine-treated rats was also assessed following intranigral injection of these agents. KEY RESULTS: PHCCC and AMN082 inhibited [(3) H]-D-aspartate release by 42% and 53%, respectively when given alongside a sub-threshold concentration of the broad spectrum group III agonist, L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4; 1?µM). In contrast (S)-3,4-DCPG failed to inhibit [(3) H]-D-aspartate release. All three agents also reversed reserpine-induced akinesia although only the effects of PHCCC and AMN082 were inhibited by pre-treatment with the group III antagonist (RS)-?-cyclopropyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine (CPPG). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings reveal that targeting SNpr mGlu(4) or mGlu(7) receptors, but not mGlu(8) receptors, provided relief from akinesia in the reserpine-treated rat model of Parkinson's disease, most likely reflecting inhibition of excess glutamate release in this region.

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Mesencephalic origin of the rostral Substantia nigra pars reticulata.

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