Age-related changes in parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the striatum, but not in the sensorimotor cortex in dystonic brains of the dtsz mutant hamster

In the dtsz hamster, a model of paroxysmal dystonia, an age-dependent increase in the activity of striatal projection neurons has been hypothesized to be based on a deficit of striatal parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) interneurons at an age of most marked expression of dystonia (30–40 days of life). In the present study, the spontaneous age-dependent remission of paroxysmal dystonia in older dtsz hamsters (age > 90 days) was found to coincide with a normalization of the density of striatal PV+ interneurons. Furthermore, the arborization of these interneurons was lower in 31 day old dtsz hamsters, but was even higher in dtsz mutant at an age of > 90 days than in control animals. Double-labeling with bromodeoxyuridine failed to show a retarded proliferation, while the number of interneurons with strong expression of PV mRNA was lower in young mutant hamsters. As shown by unaltered density of PV+ interneurons in sensorimotor cortex of 31 day old dtsz hamsters, PV containing interneurons are not reduced throughout the whole brain at the sensitive age. The present data suggest that a retarded postnatal maturation of striatal PV+ interneurons plays a critical role in paroxysmal dystonia.