Effects of septal nucleus lesion on dopamine D_2 receptor expression in the prefrontal lobe, striatum, and brainstem in a rat model of schizophrenia

摘要

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that the septal nucleus is involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Based on autopsies of schizophrenia patients, studies have shown a reduced number of septal nucleus neurons and glia. In addition, experimental rat models of schizophrenia have shown increased dopamine receptor D2 binding sites in the basal ganglia, septal nuclei, and substantia nigra. Previous studies have demonstrated that the septal nucleus modulates dopamine metabolic disorder and dopamine D2 receptor balance. OBJECTIVE: Dopamine D2 receptor expression in a rat model of schizophrenia, combined with antipsychotic drugs, was analyzed in the prefrontal lobe, striatum, and brainstem. In situ hybridization was used to observe the effects of stereotactic septal nucleus lesions on dopamine D2 receptor expression in the brains of methylamphetamine-treated rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed in the Laboratory of General Institute of Psychosurgery, Third Hospital of Chinese PLA from November 2005 to June 2006. MATERIALS: A total of 120 healthy, adult Sprague Dawley rats, weighing approximately 200 g, were included. Methylamphetamine (Sigma, USA) and an in situ hybridization detection kit for dopamine D2 receptor (Boster, China) were also used for this study. METHODS: All rats were randomly allocated to the following 4 groups, with 30 rats in each group: normal control, simple administration, septal nucleus lesion, and sham-operated groups. In the normal control group, rats were not administered or lesioned. In the remaining 3 groups, rats were intraperitoneally administered 10 mg/kg methylamphetamine, once per day, for 15 successive days to establish a schizophrenia model. Following successful model establishment, rats from the septal nucleus lesion group were subjected to stereotactic septal nucleus lesions. The cranial bone was exposed in rats from the sham-operated group, and the septal nucleus was not lesioned. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At 7 days post-surgery, dopamine D2 receptor expression in the prefrontal lobe, striatum, and brainstem were detected by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Dopamine D2 receptor expression in the rat prefrontal lobe, striatum, and brainstem was significantly higher in the simple administration group and sham-operated group, compared with the normal control group (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Septal nucleus lesions reduce dopamine D2 receptor expression in the prefrontal lobe, striatum, and brainstem in a rat model of schizophrenia, indicating that the septal nucleus modulates dopamine D2 receptor expression.