Plasticity of Synapses in the Rat Neostriatum after Unilateral Lesion of the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Pathway

摘要: In the 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson's disease in rat, there is a significant reduction number dendritic spines on principal projection neurons neostriatum, presumably attributable to loss nigrostriatal dopamine input. These invariably receive input from terminals forming asymmetric synapses that originate mainly cortex. The object present study was determine fate those after spines. Unbiased estimates synaptic density and absolute numbers defined volume neostriatum were made using "disector" Cavalieri techniques. Numerical contacts 17% lower deprived innervation and, terms, 3 billion (19%) fewer contacts. numerical subpopulation have complex or perforated specializations normally make up 9% population 44% higher experimental side. Asymmetric found be enriched glutamate postembedding immunogold labeling. observations demonstrate previously reported lesions accompanied by rather than movement other postsynaptic targets. also demonstrates an increase interactions been implicated plasticity regions CNS manipulations.