Ghrelin Bridges DMV Neuropathology and GI Dysfunction in the Early Stages of Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT: Ghrelin contributes to the communication between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Both decreased ghrelin levels and functional GI disorders are early events in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and animal models. However, the reason is not clear. Here it is found that choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV), are lost in PD transgenic mice. In response to the selective damaging of DMV neurons with mu p75-SAP, a rapid reduction both in plasma total and active ghrelin levels is observed. While by contrast, chemogenetic activation of DMV cholinergic neurons can increase the plasma ghrelin levels. Impairment of cholinergic neurons is accompanied by GI disorders, including decreased stool wet weight, stool dry weight, small

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9596842 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature