Differential expression of striatal synaptotagmin mRNA isoforms in hemiparkinsonian rats

These results imply that synaptic plasticity in response to chronic striatal dopamine depletion involves a complex pattern of changes in striatal Syt mRNA expression. The l-DOPA treatment does not reverse the changes in Syt II and Syt X gene expression, but recruits additional, D1 receptor-mediated changes in Syt IV and Syt VII gene expression. Whether these D1 receptor-mediated changes play a role in the alterations of synaptic transmission that results in the unwanted side effects of chronic l-DOPA treatment in Parkinson's disease remains to be determined.