Dopamine transporter knock-out mice are hypersensitive to 3-nitropropionic acid-induced striatal damage

Evidence suggests that dopamine is involved in the modulation of striatal excitotoxic processes. To further investigate this issue, we studied the effects of systemic 'low-dose' (total dose, 340 mg/kg in 7 days) 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) intoxication in dopamine transporter knock-out mice (DAT(-/-) ) compared to wildtype (DAT(+/+) ) mice. Systemic 'low-dose' 3-NP induced a significant impairment in a rotarod task only in DAT(-/-) mice. Histopathology also demonstrated a significant reduction of the striatal volume (-7%, P < 0.05), neuronal density (-12.5%, P < 0.001) and absolute number estimates of striatal neurons (-11.5%, P < 0.001) in DAT(-/-) compared to DAT(+/+) mice, with increased glial activation, independent of the degree of succinate dehydrogenase inhibition. These findings strengthen the hypothesis for dopamine modulation of excitotoxicity within the nigrostriatal system.