G-protein coupled receptor 6 deficiency alters striatal dopamine and cAMP concentrations and reduces dyskinesia in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

The orphan G-protein coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) is a constitutively active receptor which is positively coupled to the formation of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP). GPR6 is predominantly expressed in striatopallidal neurons. Here, we investigated neurochemical and behavioural effects of Gpr6 deficiency in mice. Gpr6 depletion decreased in vivo cAMP tissue concentrations (20%) in the striatum. An increase of striatal tissue dopamine concentrations (10%) was found in Gpr6(-/-) mice, whereas basal extracellular dopamine levels were not changed compared with Gpr6(+/+) mice, as shown by in vivo microdialysis. Western blot analyses revealed no alteration in the expression and subcellular localisation of the dopamine D2 receptor in the striatum of Gpr6(-/-) mice, and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in the substantia nigra was unchanged. DARPP-32 (dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32kDa) expression in the striatum of Gpr6(-/-) mice was not altered, however, a twofold increase in the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr34 was detected in Gpr6(-/-) compared with Gpr6(+/+) mice. Gpr6(-/-) mice showed higher locomotor activity in the open field, which persisted after treatment with the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol. They also displayed reduced abnormal involuntary movements after apomorphine and quinpirole treatment in the mouse dyskinesia model of Parkinson's disease. In conclusion, the depletion of Gpr6 reduces cAMP concentrations in the striatum and alters the striatal dopaminergic system. Gpr6 deficiency causes an interesting behavioural phenotype in the form of enhanced motor activity combined with reduced abnormal involuntary movements. These findings could offer an opportunity for the treatment of Parkinson's disease beyond dopamine replacement.

• Authors: Patrick Oeckl, Bastian Hengerer, Boris Ferger
• Journal: Experimental neurology (Exp Neurol) Vol. 257 Pg. 1-9 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1090-2430 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24747358 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Adrenergic Agents
• Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
• Dopamine Agents
• Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32
• GPR6 protein, mouse
• Ppp1r1b protein, mouse
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
• Oxidopamine
• Cyclic AMP
• Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
• Haloperidol
• Dopamine

Topics

• Adrenergic Agents (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Anti-Dyskinesia Agents (therapeutic use)
• Corpus Striatum (metabolism)
• Cyclic AMP (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dopamine (metabolism)
• Dopamine Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 (metabolism)
• Dyskinesias (drug therapy, etiology, genetics)
• Haloperidol (therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Motor Activity (drug effects, genetics)
• Oxidopamine (pharmacology)
• Parkinson Disease (drug therapy, etiology, genetics, pathology)
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled (deficiency, genetics)
• Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase (metabolism)