Influence of environment on the efficacy of intrastriatal dopaminergic grafts.
Experimental Neurology. 2000-09-01; 165(1): 172-183
DOI: 10.1006/exnr.2000.7462
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1. Exp Neurol. 2000 Sep;165(1):172-83.
Influence of environment on the efficacy of intrastriatal dopaminergic grafts.
Döbrössy MD(1), Le Moal M, Montaron MF, Abrous N.
Author information:
(1)Domaine de Carreire, INSERM U259, Rue Camille Saint Saëns, Bordeaux Cedex,
33077, France.
Functional recovery is influenced by experience. The aim of the present work was
to examine the effects of « enriched » environment (EE) versus an « impoverished »
environment on the anatomical and functional integration of intrastriatal
dopaminergic grafts. These influences were studied using a paradigm where
grafting was performed before the dopamine-depleting lesion. Dopaminergic grafts
were implanted into the left neostriatum of adult male rats. In the enriched
group, grafted rats were housed collectively and were trained on different
behavioral tests following grafting. In contrast, impoverished grafted rats were
housed individually and not further manipulated. Ten weeks after grafting, the
mesotelencephalic dopaminergic pathway was destroyed unilaterally to the grafted
side and different behaviors were followed for 7 months. Grafting prior to
lesioning had no prophylactic effects on the performance as the graft did not
prevent the onset of the lesion-induced impairments. However, under EE
conditions, a graft effect was manifested in the reduction of drug-induced
rotation and on the indices of bias as tested by a spatial alternation test. No
positive graft effects were observed in the skilled paw reaching test. Grafted
rats raised under impoverished conditions performed in a fashion
indistinguishable from the control lesioned animals on most measures of behavior.
A beneficial effect of EE conditions was observed on survival of TH-positive
neurons within the grafts. The results suggest that survival of grafted neurons,
and the reduction of the magnitude of particular behavioral impairments, can be
optimized by increasing the complexity of the subject’s environment.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
DOI: 10.1006/exnr.2000.7462
PMID: 10964496 [Indexed for MEDLINE]