Ghrelin Promotes and Protects Nigrostriatal Dopamine Function via a UCP2-Dependent Mitochondrial Mechanism
Andrews ZB, Erion D, Beiler R, Liu ZW, Abizaid A, Zigman J, Elsworth JD, Savitt JM, DiMarchi R, Tschöp M, Roth RH, Gao XB, Horvath TL. Ghrelin Promotes and Protects Nigrostriatal Dopamine Function via a UCP2-Dependent Mitochondrial Mechanism. Journal Of Neuroscience 2009, 29: 14057-14065. PMID: 19906954, PMCID: PMC2845822, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3890-09.2009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDA cell lossNigrostriatal dopamine functionParkinson's diseaseDopamine functionCell lossSubstantia nigra pars compactaSNpc DA neuronsStriatal dopamine levelsStriatal dopamine lossExogenous ghrelin administrationLoss of appetiteDopamine cell degenerationNovel therapeutic strategiesMitochondrial mechanismsTyrosine hydroxylase mRNAReactive oxygen species productionMPTP treatmentPeripheral ghrelinSNpc cellsTetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatmentDA neuronsDopamine lossGhrelin administrationPars compactaCatecholaminergic neurons