Translational profiling reveals novel gene expression changes in the direct and indirect pathways in a mouse model of Levodopa induced dyskinesia

Here we employ two transgenic mouse lines, combining translating ribosomal affinity purification (TRAP) with bacterial artificial chromosome expression (Bac), to selectively isolate RNA from either DRD1A expressing striatonigral, or DRD2 expressing striatopallidal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the direct and indirect pathways respectively, to study changes in translational gene expression following repeated LDOPA treatment. 195 significantly varying transcripts were identified among the 4 treatment groups. Pathway analysis revealed an overrepresentation of calcium signaling and long-term potentiation in the DRD1A expressing MSNs of the direct pathway, with significant involvement of long-term depression in the DRD2 expressing MSNs of the indirect pathway following chronic treatment with LDOPA. Several MAPK associated genes (NR4A1, GADD45G, STMN1, FOS and DUSP1) differentiated the direct and indirect pathways following both acute and chronic LDOPA treatment. However, the MAPK pathway activator PAK1 was downregulated in the indirect pathway and upregulated in the direct pathway, strongly suggesting a role for PAK1 in regulating the opposing effects of LDOPA on these two pathways in dyskinesia. Future studies will assess the potential of targeting these genes and pathways to prevent the development of LDOPA-induced dyskinesia. Here we employ two transgenic mouse lines, combining translating ribosomal affinity purification (TRAP) with bacterial artificial chromosome expression (Bac). The striatum was dissected and subject to TRAP. Extracted ribosomal RNA was amplified, purified and gene expression was quantified using microarray. >>>Submitter states that raw data IDAT files are no longer available for this study<<<