Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.2 , Kir3.2

Title: An immunocytochemical study of a G-protein-gated inward rectifier K+ channel (GIRK2) in the weaver mouse mesencephalon.

Authors: C Adelbrecht, M G Murer, I Lauritzen, F Lesage, M Ladzunski, Y Agid, R Raisman-Vozari

Journal, date & volume: Neuroreport, 1997 Mar 3 , 8, 969-74

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9141074

Abstract
It has been suggested that a mutation in a G-protein-gated inward rectifier K+ channel (GIRK2) is responsible for inducing cell death in the cerebellum of homozygous weaver (wv/wv) mutant mice. These mice also display a progressive, massive loss of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurones. Using an immunocytochemical method, we detected GIRK2-positive cell bodies and fibres in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of control (+/+) mice. Cell counts of both GIRK2- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurones demonstrated a marked loss of SNC cell bodies, especially in 12-month-old (12M) wv/wv mice. A considerable proportion of GIRK2-positive cell bodies were preserved, however. In addition, no loss of GIRK2-positive neurones was observed in the VTA of 12M wv/wv mice, despite of a significant reduction in TH-positive cell bodies. These results suggest that expression of the mutated channel is not a sufficient condition to induce cell death in the ventral mesencephalon of the wv/wv mice.