PROLONGED AND SELECTIVE INDUCTION OF FOS-RELATED ANTIGEN(S) IN STRIATAL NEURONS AFTER 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE LESIONS OF THE RAT SUBSTANTIA-NIGRA PARS COMPACTA

Unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the rat substantia nigra lead to a large widespread and long-lasting (> 3 months) increased expression of Fos-related antigen(s) (FRAs) in striatal neurons ipsilateral to the side of the lesion. However, Fos and Jun expression were only very slightly increased in a few scattered neurons in the dopamine-denervated striatum. These results demonstrate that FRAs are induced long-term in striatal neurons following dopamine-depletion. This increased production of FRAs may be related to neuropeptide and/or D2 dopamine receptor upregulation that also occurs in the dopamine-denervated striatum.