Dynamic rewiring of neural circuits in the motor cortex in mouse models of Parkinson's disease

Nat Neurosci. 2015 Sep;18(9):1299-1309. doi: 10.1038/nn.4082. Epub 2015 Aug 3.

Abstract

Dynamic adaptations in synaptic plasticity are critical for learning new motor skills and maintaining memory throughout life, which rapidly decline with Parkinson's disease (PD). Plasticity in the motor cortex is important for acquisition and maintenance of motor skills, but how the loss of dopamine in PD leads to disrupted structural and functional plasticity in the motor cortex is not well understood. Here we used mouse models of PD and two-photon imaging to show that dopamine depletion resulted in structural changes in the motor cortex. We further discovered that dopamine D1 and D2 receptor signaling selectively and distinctly regulated these aberrant changes in structural and functional plasticity. Our findings suggest that both D1 and D2 receptor signaling regulate motor cortex plasticity, and loss of dopamine results in atypical synaptic adaptations that may contribute to the impairment of motor performance and motor memory observed in PD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Cortex / metabolism*
  • Motor Cortex / physiopathology
  • Motor Skills / physiology
  • Nerve Net / metabolism*
  • Nerve Net / physiopathology
  • Neuronal Plasticity* / physiology
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine D1
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Dopamine