Dopamine and its metabolites in cathepsin D heterozygous mice before and after MPTP administration

Cathepsin D (CD) is a lysosomal aspartyl protease which plays an important role in α-synuclein degradation, and neuronal survival. CD knockout mice die by post-natal day 25 ± 1 due to intestinal necrosis. We analyzed the young adult male heterozygous mice, and found no behavior abnormalities in the heterozygous mice compared to wildtype littermates. LC3-II, p62, and α-synuclein levels are similar, while LAMP1 is higher in the striatum in CD heterozygous compared to wildtype mice. Interestingly, we found that dopamine and metabolites in the striatum and olfactory bulbs are at higher levels than wildtype littermates, while the DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratio remain similar between wildtype and CD heterozygous mice. In response to sub-chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration, dopamine, DOPAC, and HVA are depleted to similar levels in the striatum in both heterozygous and wildtype mice. Dopamine synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, metabolic enzyme monoamine oxidase, and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) levels are similar in the striatum in wildtype and heterozygous mice. These studies provide valuable information regarding how lysosomal function may contribute to neurochemical homeostasis in animal models.

► CD+/− mice have higher levels of striatal dopamine and metabolites than CD+/+ mice.
► MPTP treatment abolished the observed differences in striatal monoamines.
► There were no discernable behavioral differences between CD+/+ and CD+/− mice.