Differential expression of mRNAs of GDNF family in the striatum following 6-OHDA-induced lesion.

Changes of mRNA levels of GDNF and its recently discovered congeners persephin, neurturin, artemin in the striatum of lesioned side following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion in rodents were investigated with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Two weeks after the lesions were made, mRNA levels of GDNF family members, except for neurturin, were significantly increased in the striatum on the side ipsilateral to the lesion compared with equivalent tissue of sham control. This increase reached a maximal level 5-7 weeks post-lesion. The marked increase of BDNF mRNA expression was also observed in the ipsilateral striatum with similar time course. These findings suggest that 6-OHDA-induced lesions can change gene expression in denervated target tissue, and that mRNA levels of GDNF family members in striatal cells may be modulated by afferent dopaminergic input in a slow-rising and long-lasting fashion.