Dataset Information

Expression signatures of dopaminergic neurons of ventral SNc (Pitx3-dependent), dorsal SNc (Pitx3-independent) and VTA

ABSTRACT: Pitx3 is a transcription factor that is expressed in all midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons during early development, but later becomes restricted in dopaminergic subsets of substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and of the ventral tegmental are (VTA) that are vulnerable to neurodegenerative stress (MPTP, 6-OHDA, rotenone, Parkinson's disease). Overall, in mice, Pitx3 is required for developmental survival of ventral SNc neurons and for postnatal survival of VTA neurons (after postnatal day 40). With the aim of determining the gene networks that distinguish Pitx3-vulnerable (Pitx3-positive) from Pitx3-resistant (Pitx3-negative) subsets of SNc and VTA, we performed a comparison at the transcriptome level between FAC-sorted mDA neurons of SNc and VTA that were obtained from wild-type and Pitx3-/- newborn mice. The latter mice have already lost the majority of their TH+Calb1- mDA neurons of ventral SNc (Pitx3-dependent), but their TH+Calb1+ neurons of dorsal SNc (Pitx3-independent), including all of VTA neurons (50% are Pitx3-dependent and 50% Pitx3-independent), are unaffected by Pitx3 deletion. At postnatal day 40, Pitx3-/- mice display a marked loss of dopaminergic subsets of VTA that normally co-express Pitx3 and Calb1 (Pitx3-dependent neurons of VTA).

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE75777 | GEO | 2016/01/31

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA305311

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The cardinal clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD) (rigidity, rest tremor, bradykinesia, and postural instability) result from selective loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. More specifically, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) are much more susceptible to damage than the adjacent dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This dichotomy is not only seen in human Parkinson's disease, but also in many animal models of PD, including administration of the mitochondrial toxin rotenone to rats, which replicates many of the behavioral and neuropathological features of PD. The factors underlying this selective vulnerability are unknown, but could be related to differences in neuronal circuitry, differences in glial support, or intrinsic differences between the neuronal populations of the two regions. Elucidation of these factors may lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. We will determine gene expression profiles of untreated rat SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons using laser capture microscopy to obtain region-specific neuronal mRNA. There are intrinsic differences in gene expression between dopaminergic neurons in the rat SNc and VTA that result in greater susceptibility of SNc neurons to degeneration in experimental parkinsonism. These differences may be related to dopamine metabolism, oxidative metabolism and stress, protein aggregation, or other unforseen pathways. We will compare gene expression profiles between SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons in normal rats. No treatment or time points will be studied in this experiment. Animals will be anesthetized, sacrificed by decapitation, and brains frozen on dry ice. Frozen sections will be collected onto glass microscope slides and rapidly immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase to identify dopaminergic neurons. SNc and VTA neurons (approx. 200 per sample) will be isolated using laser capture microscopy. Total RNA will be extracted and poly-A RNA will be amplified using a modified Eberwine protocol. aRNA will be sent to the centers for labeling and hybridization to Affymetrix rat U34A arrays. We have confirmed with the center that our aRNA protocol is compatible with the centers amplification protocols; in fact, it is essentially identical. We will be providing a two-round amplification product to the center for labeling and hybridization. We recognize that using RNA after three rounds of amplification may decrease sensitivity for low copy number transcripts, but favor this approach versus pooling our samples (which are inherently paired) at this point. We have discussed this point in detail with the center. SNc and VTA samples from eight animals (16 samples total) will be provided to mitigate differences specific to individual animals. With the assisatnce of the center, paired t-tests will be used to determine differential expression between the two regions. Permutational t-test analysis and/or Benjamini and Hochberg analysis of expression ratios will be used to protect against multiple comparisons. Selected differentially expressed genes will be validated on separate tissue samples using quantitative RT-PCR or in situ hybridization.

Project description:The cardinal clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD) (rigidity, rest tremor, bradykinesia, and postural instability) result from selective loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. More specifically, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) are much more susceptible to damage than the adjacent dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This dichotomy is not only seen in human Parkinsons disease, but also in many animal models of PD, including administration of the mitochondrial toxin rotenone to rats, which replicates many of the behavioral and neuropathological features of PD. The factors underlying this selective vulnerability are unknown, but could be related to differences in neuronal circuitry, differences in glial support, or intrinsic differences between the neuronal populations of the two regions. Elucidation of these factors may lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. We will determine gene expression profiles of untreated rat SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons using laser capture microscopy to obtain region-specific neuronal mRNA. There are intrinsic differences in gene expression between dopaminergic neurons in the rat SNc and VTA that result in greater susceptibility of SNc neurons to degeneration in experimental parkinsonism. These differences may be related to dopamine metabolism, oxidative metabolism and stress, protein aggregation, or other unforseen pathways. We will compare gene expression profiles between SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons in normal rats. No treatment or time points will be studied in this experiment. Animals will be anesthetized, sacrificed by decapitation, and brains frozen on dry ice. Frozen sections will be collected onto glass microscope slides and rapidly immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase to identify dopaminergic neurons. SNc and VTA neurons (approx. 200 per sample) will be isolated using laser capture microscopy. Total RNA will be extracted and poly-A RNA will be amplified using a modified Eberwine protocol. aRNA will be sent to the centers for labeling and hybridization to Affymetrix rat U34A arrays. We have confirmed with the center that our aRNA protocol is compatible with the centers amplification protocols; in fact, it is essentially identical. We will be providing a two-round amplification product to the center for labeling and hybridization. We recognize that using RNA after three rounds of amplification may decrease sensitivity for low copy number transcripts, but favor this approach versus pooling our samples (which are inherently paired) at this point. We have discussed this point in detail with the center. SNc and VTA samples from eight animals (16 samples total) will be provided to mitigate differences specific to individual animals. With the assisatnce of the center, paired t-tests will be used to determine differential expression between the two regions. Permutational t-test analysis and/or Benjamini and Hochberg analysis of expression ratios will be used to protect against multiple comparisons. Selected differentially expressed genes will be validated on separate tissue samples using quantitative RT-PCR or in situ hybridization. WARNING: These data are identical to those represented in GEO Series GSE1157.

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Expression signatures of dopaminergic neurons of ventral SNc (Pitx3-dependent), dorsal SNc (Pitx3-independent) and VTA

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