Distribution of mRNA for GPR143, a receptor of 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and of immunoreactivities for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic regions

Yuka Kasahara; Daiki Masukawa; Yoshie Nakamura; Koshi Murata; Tatsuo Hashimoto; Kohtaro Takizawa; Motokazu Koga; Fumio Nakamura; Yugo Fukazawa; Kengo Funakoshi; Yoshio Goshima

doi:10.1016/j.neures.2020.08.003

Distribution of mRNA for GPR143, a receptor of 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and of immunoreactivities for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic regions

Neurosci Res. 2021 Sep:170:370-375. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.08.003. Epub 2020 Sep 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
² Division of Brain Structure and Function, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan; Life Science Innovation Center, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.
³ Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Critical Care Medicine and Dentistry, Graduate School of Dentistry, Kanagawa Dental University, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan.
⁵ Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Anesthesiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
⁶ Department of Neuroanatomy, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
⁷ Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. Electronic address: goshima@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.

PMID: 32896531
DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.08.003

Abstract

Nicotine exerts its reinforcing actions by activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Nicotine releases 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), a neurotransmitter candidate in the central nervous system. Here, we investigated the distribution of GPR143, a receptor of DOPA, and nAChR subunits in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic regions. We found GPR143 mRNA-positive cells in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Some of them were surrounded by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive fibers. There were some GPR143 mRNA-positive cells coexpressing TH, and nAChR subunit α4 or α7 in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. These findings suggest that DOPA-GPR143 signaling may be involved in the nicotine action in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems.

Keywords: GPR143; Immunohistochemistry; In situ hybridization; L-DOPA; Nicotinic receptors; Tyrosine hydroxylase.

MeSH terms

Dihydroxyphenylalanine
Nicotine / pharmacology
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Nicotinic* / genetics
Receptors, Nicotinic* / metabolism
Substantia Nigra / metabolism
Ventral Tegmental Area / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Nicotinic
Dihydroxyphenylalanine
Nicotine