The effects of age and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated peripheral inflammation on numbers of central catecholaminergic neurons.

ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD), an age-related movement disorder, is characterized by severe catecholaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN(PC))-ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC). To assess the stability of these central catecholaminergic neurons following an acute episode of severe inflammation, 6 to 22 month old C57/Bl6 mice received a maximally tolerated dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) followed by euthanasia 2 hours later to assay peak levels of peripheral and central cytokines; and, 14 weeks later for computerized stereology of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunopositive (tyrosine hydroxylase-positive [TH+]) neurons in the SN(PC)-VTA and LC. Two hours after LPS, cytokine levels varied in an age-related manner, with the greatest peripheral and central ele

SUBMITTER: Mouton PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3116956 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature