Distribution characteristics of vesicular monoamine transporter in brain of mice with Parkinson disease

Objective: To investigate the distribution of vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT(2)) in PD model of C57BL mice brain and their relationships with Parkinson disease. Methods: PD model of C57BL mice induced by reserpine or MPTP or reserpine plus MPTP was used respectively. The distribution of VMAT(2) and TH in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), the striatum, ventral tegmental ares (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results: The number of VMAT(2)-positive neurons and the number of TH-positive neurons in SNc were significantly reduced in PD model than the control, but there was no great difference in VTA and LC between PD model and the control. VMAT(2)-positive neuron fibers and TH-positive neuron fibers in the striatum region were significantly reduced in PD model. The distribution of VMAT(2) in the control in SNc was less than that in both VTA and LC. Conclusion: The amount of VMAT(2) that has protective effect on the DA neurons in SNc is less than that in both VTA and LC. The week of the protecting function of VMAT(2) in SNc may be the important cause of the selective DA neurons loses.