Asymmetrically lesioned mesencephalon in healthy rodents: call for caution.
Brain Research. 2004-10-01; 1022(1-2): 251-253
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2004.07.014
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1. Brain Res. 2004 Oct 1;1022(1-2):251-3.
Asymmetrically lesioned mesencephalon in healthy rodents: call for caution.
Pioli EY(1), Dovero S, Bioulac BH, Gross CE, Bezard E.
Author information:
(1)Basal Gang, Laboratoire de Physiologie et Physiopathologie de la Signalisation
Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 5543, Université Victor Segalen, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076
Bordeaux Cedex, France.
Stereological counting of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons in
the mesencephalon is a pivotal parameter in assessing the extent of lesioning in
animal models of Parkinson’s disease. We here show that the number of TH-IR
neurons often appears abnormally decreased in healthy–commercially
available–mice and rats, although both the number of Nissl-stained cells and the
striatal dopaminergic innervation are unaffected. This potential bias in
assessing extent of neurotoxin-induced lesion and subsequent protection by
pharmacological manipulation prompts us to call for caution in setting up
experimental designs.
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2004.07.014
PMID: 15353237 [Indexed for MEDLINE]