Immunohistochemical detection of l-DOPA-derived dopamine within serotonergic fibers in the striatum and the substantia nigra pars reticulata in Parkinsonian model rats

On the basis of our previous studies in the normal rat [Arai, R., Karasawa, N., Geffard, M., Nagatsu, I., 1995. l-DOPA is converted to dopamine in serotonergic fibers of the striatum of the rat: a double-labeling immunofluorescence study. Neurosci. Lett. 195, 195–198; Arai, R., Karasawa, N., Nagatsu, I., 1996a. Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase is present in serotonergic fibers of the striatum of the rat. A double-labeling immunofluorescence study. Brain Res. 706, 177–179; Arai, R., Karasawa, N., Nagatsu, I., 1996b. Dopamine produced from l-DOPA is degraded by endogenous monoamine oxidase in neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat: an immunohistochemical study. Brain Res. 722, 181–184] we have assumed that exogenously administered l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) is converted into dopamine (DA) in serotonergic (5-HT) fibers within the striatum (ST) and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR). In the present study, an attempt was made to confirm the assumptions in Parkinsonian rats, which were produced by unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC). The rats exhibiting more than 150 total controversial circles were regarded as satisfactory models of Parkinson disease (PD). Using a dual immunofluorescence histochemistry, we examined DA-immunoreactivity in the 5-HT fibers within the ST and the SNR of the PD model rats after l-DOPA was injected intraperitoneally. In experimental cases with the l-DOPA administration, DA-immunoreactivity was detected in 5-HT fibers in both the ST and the SNR on the 6-OHDA injection side; no DA-immunoreactivity was found in 5-HT fibers in the ST or the SNR in control cases without the l-DOPA administration. The results support the assumption that exogenously administered l-DOPA may be converted into DA within the 5-HT fibers in the ST and SNR of the PD model rats.