Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor improves de novo and long-term L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in hemiparkinsonian rats

Introduction

The impairments of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be controlled by treatment with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). Regardless of treatment, the disease continues to progress (Tuite and Riss, 2003). Chronic treatment with L-DOPA causes abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs/dyskinesia) in both animals and humans (Marsden and Parkes, 1977; Iancu et al., 2005, for review see Jenner, 2008). The emergence of AIMs with repeated L-DOPA treatment of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion rats has allowed for the examination of the mechanisms responsible for treatment-related dyskinesia in PD and the detection of molecules that are able to prevent or reverse their appearance (Cenci et al., 1998). Despite intensely investigated, long-term adaptations contributing to the development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, virtually nothing is known about the acute expression of dyskinetic movements after a single dose of L-DOPA.

Parkinson’s disease is also a disorder marked by an imbalance of non-dopaminergic transmitters (Jenner, 2008; Barone, 2010). Nitric oxide (NO) is a neurotransmitter formed from L-arginine and molecular oxygen by the action of three highly homologous isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS): neuronal (nNOS), endothelial (eNOS), and inducible (iNOS; for review see Guix et al., 2005; Garthwaite, 2008). Within the striatum, endogenous NO is produced by a subclass of aspiny interneurons containing nNOS (Kubota et al., 1993; Morello et al., 1997; Kawaguchi, 1997; Tepper and Bolam, 2004) partly controlled by dopaminergic input (Kawaguchi, 1997; Calabresi et al., 2000; Centonze et al., 2001; West and Grace, 2002, 2004).

The production of NO and superoxide have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as PD (Ebadi and Sharma, 2003). For example, in the striatum in Parkinsonian animal models and humans, NOS has been described as either depressed (rodents – De-Vente et al., 2000; Barthwal et al., 2001; Sancesario et al., 2004; humans – Böckelmann et al., 1994; Eve et al., 1998) or increased (rodents – Ponzoni et al., 2000; Gomes and Del Bel, 2003; Gomes et al., 2008; humans – Hunot et al., 1996; Eve et al., 1998). Additionally, in the 6-OHDA-lesioned striatum, a considerable population of medium spiny neurons presented an excitatory response induced by the NO donor 3-morpholinosydonimine (SIN-1; Di Giovanni et al., 2003; Galati et al., 2008) instead of the inhibition observed in non-lesioned animals. Because NO may worsen PD symptoms (Gomes et al., 2008), several NOS inhibitors have been suggested for pharmacological treatment (Calabrese et al., 2000; Del-Bel et al., 2005; Aquilano et al., 2008; Jenner, 2008; Kavya et al., 2008).

Nitrergic mechanisms could contribute to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (Monville et al., 2006; Lane et al., 2008). In PD patients, L-DOPA therapy has been shown to cause a marked increase in the production of the NO second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) within the cerebellum and in the serum (Chalimoniuk et al., 2004). Sanchez et al. (2002) showed that NO stimulated L-DOPA release in the striatum in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In mice, L-DOPA therapy has been shown to induce striatal NO production (Itokawa et al., 2006). Additionally, Chalimoniuk and Langfort (2007) showed that L-DOPA up-regulated the NO/soluble guanilyl cyclase (sGC)/cGMP pathway to levels found in MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-injected mice. Our group had recently shown that 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) and N(G)-nitro-L-Arginine (L-NOARG), nNOS and nNOS/eNOS inhibitors, respectively, can reduce the severity of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia generated in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rats (Padovan-Neto et al., 2009; Novaretti et al., 2010) and mice (Del-Bel et al., 2011). Nevertheless, the mechanism of how NOS inhibition decreases L-DOPA-dyskinesias is unknown.

The aim of the present study was to investigate, in hemiparkinsonian rats, the effect of NOS inhibition in the L-DOPA-induced AIMs achieved following either single or chronic treatment. The expression of the nNOS protein and mRNA was analyzed in the reactive 6-OHDA-lesioned and contralateral striatum.

Materials and Methods

Drugs

Apomorphine hydrochloride (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA); L-DOPA (Prolopa dispersive, Hoffman-LaRoche, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) plus benserazide–HCl; NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). All drugs were dissolved in physiological saline and administered in a volume of 2 ml/kg.

Animals and 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) Treatment

Adult male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were housed in groups of five per cage in a temperature-controlled room (23°C), under 12-h light/dark cycle with free access to food and water. Behavioral test was performed from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. All experiments were conducted according to the principles and procedures described by the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research (ILAR, USA). The Institution’s housing conditions and experimental procedures were previously approved by the local Animal Ethics Committee (protocol number: 101/2009).

Rats were submitted to stereotaxic surgery as described by Padovan-Neto et al. (2009). Briefly, rats were anesthetized with tribromoethanol (0.25 mg/kg i.p., Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and received a single injection of either saline or 6-OHDA (16 μg in 3 μl of saline containing 0.05% ascorbic acid Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) into the right medial forebrain bundle (MFB), coordinates in mm relative to bregma: antero-posterior (AP): −4.4; lateral (L): −1.2; dorso-ventral (DV): −8.2 (Paxinos and Watson, 1998). The infusion was at the rate of 1 μl/min and the cannula was left in the place for 3 min before withdrawal. To limit the damage in noradrenergic neurons, desipramine hydrochloride (25 mg/kg i.p., Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and pargyline (40 mg/kg, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) were administered 30 min before 6-OHDA injection. Brain was removed from the animals for western blot, RT-PCR and histopathological analyses. Two separate experimental groups of rats each were used for behavioral and pathological analyses. Behavioral experiments were performed on a separate group of animals.

Behavioral Tests

Stepping test

This is a modified version of the stepping test originally proposed by Chang et al. (1999) and Olsson et al. (1995). Rats were held at the rear part of the torso by one hand with their hind limbs lifted and one forepaw held steady along its trunk by the hand of the experimenter. Then, the animal was moved ahead across a table for a distance of 90 cm in 12 s (Novaretti et al., 2010). During this interval the numbers of adjusting steps of the weight-bearing forepaw to compensate for the straight ahead movement of the body were counted. For each animal the test was begun randomly with the right or left forepaw. The animal performance was measures pre-drug, 1 and 2 h after L-DOPA intake (post-drug). The experimenter was blind to the treatment.

Open field test

The procedure was described by Cools (1980). The rats were placed in an open arena which consisted of a circular enclosure (72 cm diameter) surrounded by a 49 cm Plexiglas wall with the floor divided into 12 sections. Rats were placed in the center of the arena and allowed to explore it for 5 min. The following behaviors were recorded by observation: number of crossings (i.e., number of floor sections traversed, meaning horizontal exploration), the number of edge and center squares entered (Sullivan et al., 1994), the number of rearing (standing with the forepaws raised in the middle of the arena or against the walls, denoting the vertical exploration) and grooming.

Rotational behavior test

Rotational behavior was measured after either apomorphine or L-DOPA injection by placing the animals in a 40-cm-diameter bowl surrounded by a 16-cm wall. The rats were allowed to acclimate to the environment for 5–10 min before drug treatment. Contralateral rotations, defined as complete 360° turns away from the lesioned side of the brain, were counted. For apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) the total number of full contralateral turns was counted during 45 min. Only rats showing >2 turns/min (>90 turns/45 min) were included in the study. After L-DOPA treatment (100 mg/kg, gavage), the number of contralateral turns was counted for 2 h in periods of 5 min at 0, 25, 55, 85, and 115 min after injection.

Abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs)

A trained observer blind to treatment assessed each rat for the presence of AIMs at 1 and 2 h after saline or L-DOPA accordingly to the rat dyskinesia scale (Cenci et al., 1998; Winkler et al., 2002). Briefly, rats were videotaped for 1 min and scores ranging from 0 to 4 were given for topographical distribution of axial, limb, orofacial and locomotor AIMs. To obtain a more accurate scale, additional scores also ranging from 0 to 4 were attributed to the amplitude of axial and limb AIMs (Winkler et al., 2002). Each AIM was presented separately at 1 and 2 h after L-DOPA.

Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) Immunorreactivity

Dopaminergic depletion was confirmed with TH immunohistochemistry.

Tissue processing

Twenty-four hours after last test, rats were deeply anesthetized with urethane (25 mg/kg, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and then rapidly perfused transcardiacally with 250 ml of cold saline and 400 ml of 4% paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The tissues were cut at 25 μm on a freezing microtome. Sections through the striatum and SNc were collected in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline solution containing 0.02% sodium azide and stored at 4°C until use.

Immunohistochemistry reaction

Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunohistochemistry was performed using a standard peroxidase based method (Gomes et al., 2008). Briefly, the sections were incubated with primary TH antibody (1:2000, Pel Freez, Rogers, AR, USA) overnight at 4°C followed by biotinylated secondary antibody (Vectastain ABC Kit, Vector Laboratories, Southfield, MI, USA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated streptavidin (Vectastain ABC Kit, Vector Laboratories, Southfield, MI, USA). The sections were developed using diaminobenzidine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) as the chromogen.

Image analysis

The AP localizations (from Bregma in mm) of the analyzed areas were: AP: −5.2 for SNc and AP: −6.03 for ventral and lateral substantia nigra (SNV and SNL respectively, Figure 1). Labeling of TH positive cells/fibers in SNc were assessed by measuring optical density of the entire area of the structure. Background (corpus callosum) was subtracted from all subsequent measurements. Results are presented the percentage of the optical density over the area (in mm²) of the ipsilateral side compared to the contralateral one. The number of TH positive neurons in the SNL and SNV were counted manually and results are expressed as the number of positive stained neurons per mm² of the structure. For each selected area, quantifications were carried out using four sections per animal, separated by 125 μm approximately. Quantifications were performed blindly, bilaterally, using a light microscope (Leica DMRB) equipped with a video camera (Leica DFC420). Neuroanatomical sites were identified using the atlas of Paxinos and Watson (1998). The analysis was done using the software ImageJ¹.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Representative microphotographs demonstrating TH-immunoreactive cell bodies in the substantia nigra of a rat with more than 95% cell loss. (A,B) The 6-OHDA-microinjection induced degeneration of dopamine neurons in the MFB injection side. Images were captured in sections at (A) −5.20 mm and (B) −6.04 mm, AP to Bregma. (C,D) Quantification of striatal TH + cells/fibers by optical density were performed at SNc (−5.20 mm from Bregma) and in the SNL and SNV (−6.04 mm from Bregma). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (Saline-MFB, n = 6; 6-OHDA-MFB, n = 11). SNc, substantia nigra pars compacta; SNL, lateral substantia nigra; SNV, ventral substantia nigra.

Western Blot Analysis

The animals were decapitated, the lesion-reactive (right) and the contralateral (left-control) striatum were microdissected on an ice-cooled dissection cover, with the help of magnifying lens (Leica Zoom 2000), and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen (−196°C). Tissue samples were stored at −80°C until use. Left and right striatum was processed separately. The homogenates were centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 25 min at 4°C. The supernatants were recovered for protein concentration measurements using Bradford assay (Bio-Rad Protein assay, Bio-Rad, Germany). Proteins (30 μg) were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (8% SDS-PAGE) and semi-dry transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane.

Because the FosB primary antibody recognizes both full-length FosB and ΔFosB-related proteins, the staining obtained with this antibody is referred to as FosB/ΔFosB. Nitrocellulose membranes were incubated at 4°C overnight using the following antibodies: mouse monoclonal anti-nNOS (1:1000, BD Biosciences, USA), rabbit polyclonal anti-FosB/ΔFosB (1:1000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA), mouse monoclonal anti-ß-actin (1:5000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA). Bound antibodies were detected with HRP-conjugated secondary anti-mouse or anti-rabbit antibodies (1:5000, Jackson Immuno Research Laboratories, USA). Bands were visualized by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL, Amersham, UK) and quantified with the software ImageJ². The integrated density (product of the area and mean gray value) of each band of the proteins of interest was normalized to the integrated density of ß-actin and used to compare relative levels of the proteins of interest. Each experiment was performed at least three times with similar results.

Real-Time Quantitative PCR

For RT-PCR (see Bibancos et al., 2007), the brain regions dissected were the prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and the hippocampus (contralateral and lesion-reactive), in a similar way described for the western blot. Frozen samples were immersed in TRIzol (Invitrogen™ Cat. No. 15596-026) and homogenized (Polytron PT10/35-Brinkmann, Westbury, NY, USA) by 30 s using maximum speed. Total RNA was isolated according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and quantified by a spectrophotometer. The integrity of RNA was verified on ethidium bromide-stained 1% agarose gel, and the fluorescence intensity ratio of 28S/18S rRNA was determined (Eagle Eye; Stratagene, La Jolla, CA, USA). Only samples that met our criteria of quality (both 260/280 nm and 28S/18S > 1.8) were included in the experiments. The DNA was removed from RNA samples before reverse transcription with a RQ1 RNase-Free DNase (Promega^® Cat. No. M6101) at 37°C for 30 min and the enzyme inactivated at 65°C for 10 min, maintaining the integrity of the RNA.

Total RNA (2 μg) was reverse transcribed at the same time using a master mix containing oligo (dT; Invitrogen™ Cat. No. 18418-012) primer and SuperScript™ III Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen™ Cat. No. 18080-093) in a final volume of 20 μl. Specific primers (Rattusnorvegicus) for the nNOS enzyme, and the control genes cyclophilin A (peptidylprolylisomerase A: Ppia), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapd) and beta-actin (Actb) were designed using the Primer3 software³. The following criteria were followed: primer size (18–20 nucleotides), G/C content (∼50%), annealing temperature (58–60°C), amplicon size (93–221 nucleotides) and proximity of 3′ end, when possible. Forward and reverse primers were designed in different exons (with the exception of the intron less genes: Drd1a) and specificity was confirmed by a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)⁴ software-assisted search of a non-redundant nucleotide sequence database for rat, and electrophoresis on an ethidium bromide-stained 3% agarose gel. Real-time PCR analysis of gene expression was carried out in an ABI Prism 7700 sequence detection system (Applied Biosystems). The optimal concentration of cDNA and primers as well as the maximum efficiency of amplification were obtained through five-point, twofold dilution curve analysis for each gene. Each PCR contained 12.5 ng of reverse-transcribed RNA, 200 nm of each specific primer, SYBR^® GREEN PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems Cat. No. 4309155), and RNase free water to a 20 μl final volume. cDNA samples from each area for all treatments and strain were processed at the same time in triplicate for each gene and the negative controls included for each brain area/primer. The PCR conditions were 10 min at 95°C, followed by 40 cycles at 95°C for 15 s and 60°C for 60 s, and a melting step (dissociation curve) was performed after each run to further confirm the specificity of the products and the absence of primer dimers. Real-time data were analyzed using Sequence Detector System 1.7 (Applied Biosystems). The relative expression in all brain areas was calculated according to a previous study (geNorm v 3.4, Vandesompele et al., 2002).

The following pairs of primers for cDNA, from genes available at the NCBI-NIH GeneBank, were used to nNOS (NM 052799; product of 202 bp): sense 5′-ATT CAA CAG CGT CTC CTC CT-3′ and antisense 5′-AAT CCT CTC CCC TCC CAG T-3′. Reference genes: Ppia (NM 017101; product of 101 bp): sense 5′-AAT GCT GGA CCA AAC ACA AA-3′ and antisense 5′-CCT TCT TTC ACC TTC CCA AA-3′; Gapd (NM 017008; product of 162 bp): sense 5′-ATG GTG AAG GTC GGT GTG-3′ and antisense 5′-GAA CTT GCC GTG GGT AGA G-3′; Actb (NM 031144; product of 174 bp): sense 5′-CGT TGA CAT CCG TAA AGA CC-3′ and antisense 5′-GCC ACC AAT CCA CAC AGA-3′.

Statistical Analysis

The effects of L-NOARG on acute and chronic L-DOPA-induced AIMs were evaluated, respectively, by Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon non-parametric tests. L-NOARG effects on rotational behavior were evaluated by one way repeated measure ANOVA (rANOVA), Student’s t-test or Student’s paired t-test as indicated. L-NOARG effects on stepping test were obtained on each side (ipsi- and contralateral) with two way ANOVA or one way rANOVA as indicated. Stepping test was analyzed on each side by two way rANOVA being test session (pre-test and test) and time (day 1 and day 15) the repeated measures. When significant interactions were found on time, one way rANOVA were performed for each day. Western blot and data RT-PCR data was compared by using one and two way rANOVA as indicated. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Post hoc analysis was performed by Sidak or Student t-test as indicated. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Experimental Design

Unilaterally 6-OHDA-lesioned rats were assigned to treatment groups according to apomorphine-rotational behavior test performance (day 21 following surgery), to ensure that these measures were matched between groups. No ipsilateral rotation (complete 360° turns toward the lesion-reactive striatum) was observed. 6-OHDA-lesioned rats presenting more than two rotations in 1 min were included in the study. L-DOPA or vehicle treatment started approximately 1 week after apomorphine test. The study consisted of four different experiments.

Experiment 1

Experiment 1 was a behavioral evaluation of control, 6-OHDA lesioned and dyskinetic rats to assess spontaneous locomotor activity, horizontal activity, and forelimb use asymmetry by the open field and the stepping tests. Approximately 2 days after the apomorphine-rotational behavior test (wash-out time), independent groups of 6-OHDA-lesioned (n = 7) and controls (n = 6–7) were submitted to the stepping test or the open field test. 6-OHDA-lesioned rats treated with L-DOPA (n = 6–9) were also tested at the 15th day of L-DOPA treatment. The open field test was completed before L-DOPA intake. The stepping test was performed before (pre-test) and after L-DOPA treatment.

Experiment 2

Experiment 2 aimed to compare the molecular effects in the striatum (bilaterally), estimating the nNOS expression (mRNA and protein) and FosB/ΔFosB (protein). Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last behavioral test for immunohistochemistry, western blot or RT-PCR analysis. The RT-PCR analysis was prepared in controls (control/saline, n = 7) and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats (n = 13). 6-OHDA-lesioned rats matched for the apomorphine-rotational behavior score were divided into two groups: 6-OHDA/sal (saline 15 days, once a day, gavage, n = 7) and 6-OHDA/L-DOPA (L-DOPA + benserazide, 100 and 25 mg/kg, respectively, 15 days, once a day, gavage, n = 6). The western blot protein analysis was prepared in control/sal (n = 5), 6-OHDA/sal (n = 5) and 6-OHDA/L-DOPA + benserazide (100 and 25 mg/kg) after either 1 day (acute; n = 5) or 15 days (chronic; n = 5) of treatment.

Experiment 3

Experiment 3 was designed to compare the behavioral effects of acute L-NOARG on established L-DOPA-induced AIMs. Rats received daily administration (for 15 days) of either vehicle (groups: control/sal, n = 10 and 6-OHDA/sal, n = 10) or L-DOPA + benserazide (groups: control/L-DOPA, n = 11 and 6-OHDA/L-DOPA, n = 17). Rats were matched for the AIM scores on day 15 of L-DOPA treatment. On day 16, animals were divided into subgroups: control/sal, n = 5; 6-OHDA/sal, n = 5; control/L-DOPA, n = 5–6; or 6-OHDA/L-DOPA, n = 8–9. Animals received (intraperitoneal (i.p.), 30 min before L-DOPA) either 50 mg/kg of L-NOARG or saline. The L-NOARG effect was calculated by comparing AIM scores, rotational behavior and the results of the stepping-test, between days 15 and 16.

Experiment 4

Experiment 4 was designed to compare the behavioral effects of acute L-NOARG on acute L-DOPA-induced AIMs. Rats were divided into subgroups (control/sal, n = 5; 6-OHDA/sal, n = 5–6; control/L-DOPA, n = 5; or 6-OHDA/L-DOPA, n = 10–11) and received either 50 mg/kg of L-NOARG or saline 30 min before L-DOPA. AIMs, rotational behavior and the stepping test were evaluated. The L-NOARG effect was calculated by comparing behavioral data between the groups.

Results

6-OHDA-lesioned rats presented apomorphine-induced rotation contralateral to the lesion (317 ± 44 turns/45 min). No rotation was observed in the control animals. Quantification of striatal TH-positive cells and fibers by optical density was measured in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and in the SNL and SNV (Figure 1). TH-immunostaining (Figure 1A) indicated a dopaminergic cell loss >95% in the SNc (Figure 1C), ipsilateral to the 6-OHDA injection (Figures 1A,B). SNL and SNV also presented a reduction in the number of cells and fibers (Figures 1A,B,D). No change was observed in control rats (data not shown).

Behavioral Evaluation of 6-OHDA-Induced Lesion and L-DOPA-Induced AIMs in Rats

Due to the lack of statistical difference between tests performed at 1 and 2 h (p > 0.05, paired t-test) with the stepping test, data were presented as the mean of values collected at these times. 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, but not controls, presented an impairment of the contralateral forehand paw when compared to the ipsilateral paw (approximately 70%, Figure 2A). L-DOPA treatment on day 1 improved stepping performance (Figure 2B, group: F_(1,26) = 112.35, p < 0.05; test: F_(1,26) = 56.82, p < 0.05; interaction: F_(1,26) = 26.15, p < 0.05). The effect was maintained through the last day of treatment (Figure 2B, day 15), with no differences between groups (pre-test and test, p > 0.05). The ipsilateral paw adjusting steps were not changed by lesion or drug treatment (Figure 2A). Finally, there was a significant correlation (r = 0.56, p = 0.02, Figure 2C) between apomorphine induction of the rotational behavior and forehand paw test impairment.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Effects of 6-OHDA-lesion and L-DOPA treatment in the rodents stepping test. Rats received either saline (n = 17) or 6-OHDA (n = 11) microinjections on MFB. (A) For both groups, L-DOPA chronic treatment had no effect on the paw ipsilateral to the lesion. (B) 6-OHDA microinjection induced deficits in the paw contralateral to lesion (day 1, pre-test) that was reversed by L-DOPA administration (day 1, test). L-DOPA treatment also improved the akinesia in the contralateral paw until the end of the treatment (day 15). (C) Spearman correlation between contralateral adjusting steps as a function of indirect striatal dopamine depletion provided by apomorphine-induced rotational behavior. *p < 0.05 vs saline-FPM injected rats; ^#p < 0.05 vs pre-test (two way rANOVA). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM.

The open field test revealed a decrease in the motor activity after 6-OHDA-lesion (rearing and the number of squares crossed in comparison with controls, Table 1; p < 0.05). The lesioned rats demonstrated a noticeable preference for exploration of the right side of the field, but there was no significant difference in grooming. L-DOPA treatment did not change these parameters (p > 0.05; Table 1).

TABLE 1

Table 1. Exploratory behavior of rats in open field arena.

Neuronal NOS Expression in the Striatum of Control, 6-OHDA-Lesioned and L-DOPA-Treated (Dyskinetic) Rats

In the striatum, the expression of nNOS transcript in both hemispheres differed significantly among the groups (Figure 3B; side-treatment interaction: F_(2,17) = 5.06, p < 0.05). There was a modest increase (1.5 times) in the ipsilateral striatum of both 6-OHDA-lesioned and dyskinetic rats. However, in the striatum contralateral to the lesion in the L-DOPA-treated rats, there was a greater (10 times) increase in nNOS mRNA expression. A similar result was observed in the prefrontal cortex, but the greatest increase in nNOS mRNA was observed in the ipsilateral frontal cortex (Figure 3A; side-treatment interaction: F_(2,16) = 14.91, p < 0.05), Figure 3A). No changes were observed in the hippocampus (Figure 3C, p > 0.05).

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the nNOS mRNA in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus of control, 6-OHDA-lesioned and on established l-DOPA-induced AIMs. Treatment is described in the Section “Materials and Methods.” Bars represent transcript amount per region analyzed, expressed as the mean ± SEM of six to seven animals samples/group. Representative distribution patterns of nNOS mRNA expression on prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus are shown in (A), (B), and (C) respectively. ^♦p < 0.05 vs control; ^*p < 0.05 vs control and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats; ^#p < 0.05 vs contralateral side (rANOVA followed by the Sidak test, p < 0.05).

The western blot analysis (Figure 4) indicated a bilateral increase in the nNOS protein content in the striatum (treatment: F_(2,6) = 82.56, p < 0.05, side: F_(1,6) = 17.22; p < 0.05; interaction: F_(1,6) = 0.57; p < 0.05). In the striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned and L-DOPA-induced AIMs rats, there was an increase of nNOS protein between 19 and 24% (Figure 4; p < 0.05). Additionally, FosB/ΔFosB protein was visualized bilaterally in the striatum of lesioned rats (Figure 5A). Acute and chronic L-DOPA administration to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats induced a bilateral increase in the expression of FosB/ΔFosB protein (side: F_(1,4) = 757.77, p < 0.05; treatment: F_(1,4) = 314.46, p < 0.05; interaction: F_(1,4) = 201.30, p < 0.05). The increase was larger in the striatum ipsilateral to the lesion. Chronic L-DOPA treatment induced a more pronounced FosB/ΔFosB expression in the ipsilateral striatum when compared to the ipsilateral striatum in the acute L-DOPA-treated rats (p < 0.05; Figure 5B).

FIGURE 4

Figure 4. Western blot analysis of nNOS protein in the rat striatum: effect of lesion and L-DOPA chronic treatment in control, 6-OHDA-lesioned and on established L-DOPA-induced AIMs. Treatment is described in Methods. (A) Contralateral and, (B) ipsilateral striatum. Lines indicate specific bands at ∼155 kDa (nNOS) and ∼43 kDa of a loading control (β-actin). (C) There was an increment of nNOS protein expression in both ipsilateral and contrataleral striatum for 6-OHDA-lesioned and L-DOPA-treated-6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The values obtained from contralateral side were higher than the ipsilateral one. *p < 0.05 vs control; ^#p < 0.05 vs ipsilateral side (rANOVA followed by the Sidak test, p < 0.05).

FIGURE 5

Figure 5. Characterization of the expression of FosB/ΔFosB after acute and on established L-DOPA-induced AIMs. (A) Western blots of proteins from extracted striatum of acutely and chronically L-DOPA-treated hemiparkinsonian rats; left and right lanes represent proteins from ipsilateral (I) and contralateral (C) striatum, respectively. (B) Results of the quantification of L-DOPA-induced FosB/ΔFosB expression are expressed as the integrated density of each band of the proteins of interest was normalized to the integrated density of the control loading ß-actin (mean ± SEM; square pixel). *p < 0.05 compared with contralateral striatum for either acute or chronic treatment with L-DOPA (paired t-test). ^#p < 0.05 compared with the same side for acute or chronic treatment with L-DOPA (t-test).

Behavioral Effects of Acute L-NOARG Treatment on Established L-DOPA-Induced AIMs

L-DOPA chronic treatment, in general, induced an increase in the number of turns (time: F_(2,32) = 78.27, p < 0.05) and AIMs (p < 0.05). L-DOPA treatment in the control rats induced no AIMs and no turns. L-NOARG reduced locomotor AIMs (Figure 6A, 1 h; p < 0.05), limb/orofacial AIMs (Figure 6B; 2 h; p < 0.05) and contralateral turns (Figures 6C,D; p < 0.05). L-DOPA treatment improved stepping test performance in the contralateral paw, as demonstrated in Figure 2. The adjusting step in the ipsilateral paw did not change. L-NOARG before L-DOPA induced no effect in the ipsilateral paw (Figure 6E; p > 0.05) but did result in a small reduction ( < 20%) in the contralateral paw (Figure 6F; treatment: F_(1,11) = 3.02, p > 0.05; group: F_(1,11) = 1.57, p > 0.05; interaction: F_(1,11) = 9.01, p < 0.05).

FIGURE 6

Figure 6. Effects of L-NOARG pre-treatment on AIMs, rotational behavior and stepping test on established L-DOPA-induced AIMs. (A) L-NOARG pre-treatment significantly reduced locomotor AIM scores at 1 h after L-DOPA. (B) Limb and orofacial AIMs scores were significantly reduced by L-NOARG at 2 h after L-DOPA. *p < 0.05 (Wilcoxon). (C) L-NOARG pre-treatment reduced contralateral turns measured during 5 min at 0, 25, 55, 85, and 115 min after L-DOPA treatment. *p < 0.05 (one way rANOVA). (D) L-NOARG reduced total contralateral turns measured during 120 min after L-DOPA. p < 0.05 (paired t-test). After chronic L-DOPA treatment L-NOARG pre-treatment did not affect (E) ipsilateral adjusting steps and (F) slight reduced adjusting steps performed with contralateral paw. *p < 0.05 vs Saline-FPM (one way rANOVA). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (6-OHDA-FPM, n = 8–9/group; Saline-FPM, n = 5–6/group).

Behavioral Effects of L-NOARG on Acute L-DOPA-Induced AIMs

All subtypes of AIMs were observed 1 and 2 h after the administration of acute L-DOPA to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats (Figures 7A,B). Pre-treatment with L-NOARG reduced AIMs (limb, limb amplitude, and orofacial) at the first hour (Figures 7A,B, p < 0.05) and locomotor AIMs after 2 h of L-DOPA treatment (Figure 7B; p < 0.05). In contrast, L-NOARG did not change L-DOPA-induced rotation (Figures 7C,D). Administration of a single L-DOPA treatment to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats induced a slight increase in the stepping test performance of the ipsilateral paw, with no difference in the contralateral paw (Figure 7E; group: F_(1,27) = 0.38, p > 0.05; treatment: F_(1,27) = 2.26, p > 0.05; interaction: F_(1,27) = 6.94, p < 0.05). Pre-treatment with L-NOARG decreased stepping test in the contralateral paw performance (Figure 7F; group, F_(1,27) = 16.23, p < 0.05; treatment: F_(1,27) = 5.21, p < 0.05; interaction: F_(1,27) = 11.37, p < 0.05) with no effect in the ipsilateral paw.

FIGURE 7

Figure 7. Effects of L-NOARG pre-treatment on AIMs, rotational behavior and stepping test on acute L-DOPA-induced AIMs. (A) L-NOARG pre-treatment significantly reduced limb, limb amplitude and orofacial AIMs scores 1 h after L-DOPA application. (B) Locomotor AIM score was attenuated by L-NOARG 2 h after L-DOPA treatment. *p < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney). (C) L-NOARG pre-treatment had no effects on contralateral turns measured during 5 min at 0, 25, 55, 85, and 115 min after L-DOPA treatment p > 0.05 (two way rANOVA) neither on (D) total contralateral turns, assessed during 120 min after L-DOPA treatment. p > 0.05 (t-test) (E) L-DOPA treatment slightly increased the number of the adjusting steps of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats in the paw ipsilateral to the lesion. (F) L-DOPA treatment completely restored the akinesia in the contralateral-to lesion paw, of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats but L-NOARG pre-treatment impaired L-DOPA effect. *p < 0.05 vs Saline-FPM injected (two way ANOVA). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (6-OHDA-FPM, n = 10–11/group; Saline-FPM, n = 5/group).

Discussion

The main findings of this study were that L-NOARG attenuated AIMs induced by acute and chronic L-DOPA treatment. Rotational behavior was attenuated only after chronic L-DOPA administration. L-DOPA improved stepping test performance, and its chronic administration did not alter open field behavior. Our results indicated a correlation between apomorphine-induced rotation and the decrease in the number of adjusting steps performed with the contralateral forepaw in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. In the striatum and the frontal cortex, the 6-OHDA lesion and the L-DOPA treatment induced a bilateral increase in the nNOS protein, nNOS mRNA and the FosB/ΔFosB, the FosB/ΔFosB being greatest in the ipsilateral striatum. In contrast, there was an increase of 10 times in the nNOS mRNA in the contralateral striatum and in the ipsilateral frontal cortex with L-DOPA-chronic treatment.

Individual AIM categories are highly interrelated, but this does not imply that each AIM category represents the same phenomena. Moreover, there is currently no consensus on the behavioral components underlying turning. The interpretation of circling behavior has been greatly debated with the introduction of a rodent rating scale for dyskinesia (Henry et al., 1998; Lundblad et al., 2002; Konitsiotis and Tsironis, 2006; Lane et al., 2006; Cenci and Konradi, 2010). The phenomenon of rotation was first described by Ungerstedt and Arbuthnott (1970). The administration of post-synaptic dopamine agonists, such as L-DOPA, induced contraversive rotation through asymmetric striatal receptor stimulation (Zetterstrom et al., 1986; Schwarting et al., 1991). The mechanisms by which asymmetry in central dopaminergic systems translated into the motor response of turning remains unclear (for a review, see Miller and Beninger, 1991; Dunnett and Robbins, 1992). Turning has been interpreted as either a lateralized expression of sensory hyperattention or as the result of asymmetries in the dopaminergic control of posture or locomotion (for review see Miller and Beninger, 1991; Schwarting and Huston, 1996; Lundblad et al., 2002). Early reports suggested that the amplitude enhancement of the contralateral rotational response was caused by basal ganglia sensitization similar to that thought to underlie the development of dyskinesias (Papa et al., 1994; Henry et al., 1998; Mura et al., 2002). Our results corroborated findings of L-DOPA-induced rotation differences between acute and chronic treatment. It reflected a difference in the underlying neural mechanisms revealed by the distinct NO system interference.

The adjusting steps task is used as an index of severe dopaminergic depletion (Olsson et al., 1995; Schwarting and Huston, 1996; Chang et al., 1999). In corroboration, adjusting steps correlated with apomorphine-induced rotations. L-NOARG per se slightly decreased adjusting steps of the contralateral paw, an effect that disappeared with chronic L-DOPA treatment. The impairment in the stepping test could be interpreted as motor behavior impairment in the unprimed L-DOPA rats. However, previous results (Novaretti et al., 2010) have shown no interference of 7-NI in the stepping test performance following either acute or chronic L-DOPA treatment. The open field test, a test that evaluates exploratory behavior as an index of motor activity, was not modified by either acute or chronic L-DOPA treatment. Therefore, given that L-NOARG did not interfere with acute L-DOPA rotational behavior, our results suggested that the effect of the NOS inhibitor could conceivably rely on the L-DOPA structural modifications in the Parkinsonian brain (Cenci et al., 1998, 2002; Lundblad et al., 2002).

The implications of NO in the response to anti-dyskinetic therapy are poorly understood. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the involvement of NO in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway (Duncan and Heales, 2005). There are several possible mechanisms through which NOS inhibitors may influence L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. NO modulates L-DOPA release from the striatum (Sanchez et al., 2002; Abreu-González et al., 2006). Additionally, in the rat striatum and medial preoptic area, NO increased both dopamine and serotonin release in a cGMP-dependent manner (Trabace et al., 2004). The development of abnormal movements has been associated with changes in gene and protein expression in dopamine-denervated striatal neurons (Cenci et al., 1998; Andersson et al., 1999; Pavón et al., 2006). In response to L-DOPA, FosB/ΔFosB expression appeared to be selectively induced in the nitrergic neurons in the striatum, where it facilitates the expression of histone acetyltransferase, resulting in enhanced local phosphorylated histone and further changes in gene expression (Darmopil et al., 2009; Santini et al., 2009). NO may be involved either in the neurodegeneration/death or neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons (Przedborski et al., 1996; Dehmer et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2000; Gomes and Del-Bel, 2003; Gomes et al., 2008).

L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia has been linked to pathological cortico-striatal synaptic plasticity, which is mediated by long-lasting molecular changes (for review see Cenci and Konradi, 2010). In PD, there is an increase in NADPH-diaphorase-positive glial cells in the substantia nigra suggesting up-regulation of iNOS (Hunot et al., 1996), but there is also elevated expression of nNOS mRNA in other areas of basal ganglia (Eve et al., 1998) and increased nitrite levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (Qureshi et al., 1995), all suggesting increased NO production. Nevertheless, De-Vente et al. (2000) and Sancesario et al. (2004) reported that lesions of the dopaminergic innervation also using 6-OHDA resulted in a 50% decrease in NOS activity in the injured striatum and frontal cortex. We could not explain why NOS mRNA was increased 10 times (approximately) in the contralateral striatum and frontal cortex and why it did not result in protein increase. It is possible that nNOS expression increase is associated with neurodegenerative rearrangements of the remaining neurocircuitries, preserving and/or further impairing the affected functions.

Conclusion

Our study provided further evidence of the anti-dyskinetic effects of a NOS inhibitor under acute and chronic L-DOPA treatment. Our results revealed an over-expression of the neuronal NOS in the frontal cortex and striatum in Parkinsonian and dyskinetic rats probably associated with rearrangements of the remaining neurocircuitries,. Taken together, these data provide a rationale for further evaluation of NOS inhibitors in the treatment of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from CAPES/COFECUB, FAPESP/INSERM, FAPESP, and CNPq. We would like to acknowledge the Célia A. da-Silva excellent technical assistance. This work would not be realized without the assistance and kindness of Professor José Eduardo Krieger – INCOR-USP.

Footnotes

1. ^http://rsb.info.nih.gov
2. ^http://rsb.info.nih.gov
3. ^http://frodo.wi.mit.edu/cgi-bin/primer3/primer3_www.cgi
4. ^http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST

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