AMPA-induced extracellular Zn2+ influx into nigral dopaminergic neurons causes movement disorder in rats

On the basis of the findings that the rapid influx of extracellular Zn2+ into nigral dopaminergic neurons causes dopaminergic neurodegeneration, here we report that AMPA causes movement disorder in rats. AMPA markedly increased turning behavior in response to apomorphine 1 and 2 weeks after AMPA injection into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), while AMPA-induced movement disorder was suppressed by co-injection of intracellular Zn2+ chelators, i.e., ZnAF-2DA and TPEN, suggesting that AMPA-induced movement disorder is due to intracellular Zn2+ dysregulation. Furthermore, AMPA markedly induced loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons 2 weeks after AMPA injection into the SNpc, while AMPA-induced neurodegeneration was also suppressed in the SNpc and the striatum by co-injection of ZnAF-2DA and TPEN. AMPA rapidly increased nigral intracellular Zn2+ after AMPA injection into the SNpc and this increase was blocked by co-injection of TPEN. These results indicate that AMPA receptor activation rapidly increases influx of extracellular Zn2+ into nigral dopaminergic neurons and causes nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration, resulting in movement disorder in rats. The evidence that AMPA-induced intracellular Zn2+ dysregulation causes movement disorder via nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration suggests that AMPA receptors, probably Ca2+- and Zn2+-permeable GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors are potential targets for overcoming Parkinson's syndrome.