Immunochemical analysis of the expression of SV2C in mouse, macaque and human brain.

The synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2C (SV2C) is an undercharacterized protein with enriched expression in phylogenetically old brain regions. Its precise role within the brain is unclear, though various lines of evidence suggest that SV2C is involved in the function of synaptic vesicles through the regulation of vesicular trafficking, calcium-induced exocytosis, or synaptotagmin function. SV2C has been linked to multiple neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease and psychiatric conditions. SV2C is expressed in various cell types-primarily dopaminergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic cells. In mice, it is most highly expressed in nuclei within the basal ganglia, though it is unknown if this pattern of expression is consistent across species. Here, we use a custom SV2C-specific antiserum to describe localization within the brain of mouse, nonhuman primate, and human, including cell-type localization. We found that the immunoreactivity with this antiserum is consistent with previously-published antibodies, and confirmed localization of SV2C in the basal ganglia of rodent, rhesus macaque, and human. We observed strongest expression of SV2C in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, dorsal striatum, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens of each species. Further, we demonstrate colocalization between SV2C and markers of dopaminergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic neurons within these brain regions. SV2C has been increasingly linked to dopamine and basal ganglia function. These antisera will be an important resource moving forward in our understanding of the role of SV2C in vesicle dynamics and neurological disease.

Elevated Anxiety and Impaired Attention in Super-Smeller, Kv1.3 Knockout Mice.

It has long been recognized that olfaction and emotion are linked. While chemosensory research using both human and rodent models have indicated a change in emotion can contribute to olfactory dysfunction, there are few studies addressing the contribution of olfaction to a modulation in emotion. In mice, olfactory deficits have been linked with heightened anxiety levels, suggesting that there could be an inverse relationship between olfaction and anxiety. Furthermore, increased anxiety is often co-morbid with psychiatric conditions such as attention disorders. Our study aimed to investigate the roles of olfaction in modulating anxiety. Voltage-gated potassium ion channel Kv1.3 knockout mice (Kv1.3-/-), which have heightened olfaction, and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for anxiety-like behaviors using marble burying (MB), light-dark box (LDB) and elevated-plus maze (EPM) tests. Because Kv1.3-/- mice have increased locomotor activity, inattentive and hyperactive behaviors were quantified for both genotypes. Kv1.3-/- mice showed increased anxiety levels compared to their WT counterparts and administration of methylphenidate (MPH) via oral gavage alleviated their increased anxiety. Object-based attention testing indicated young and older Kv1.3-/- mice had attention deficits and treatment with MPH also ameliorated this condition. Locomotor testing through use of a metabolic chamber indicated that Kv1.3-/- mice were not significantly hyperactive and MPH treatment failed to modify this activity. Our data suggest that heightened olfaction does not necessarily lead to decreased anxiety levels, and that Kv1.3-/- mice may have behaviors associated with inattentiveness.

Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2C (SV2C) modulates dopamine release and is disrupted in Parkinson disease.

Members of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) family of proteins are involved in synaptic function throughout the brain. The ubiquitously expressed SV2A has been widely implicated in epilepsy, although SV2C with its restricted basal ganglia distribution is poorly characterized. SV2C is emerging as a potentially relevant protein in Parkinson disease (PD), because it is a genetic modifier of sensitivity to l-DOPA and of nicotine neuroprotection in PD. Here we identify SV2C as a mediator of dopamine homeostasis and report that disrupted expression of SV2C within the basal ganglia is a pathological feature of PD. Genetic deletion of SV2C leads to reduced dopamine release in the dorsal striatum as measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, reduced striatal dopamine content, disrupted α-synuclein expression, deficits in motor function, and alterations in neurochemical effects of nicotine. Furthermore, SV2C expression is dramatically altered in postmortem brain tissue from PD cases but not in Alzheimer disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, or multiple system atrophy. This disruption was paralleled in mice overexpressing mutated α-synuclein. These data establish SV2C as a mediator of dopamine neuron function and suggest that SV2C disruption is a unique feature of PD that likely contributes to dopaminergic dysfunction.

Immunochemical localization of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in mouse brain.

Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2, SLC18A2) is a transmembrane transporter protein that packages dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine into vesicles in preparation for neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic neuron. VMAT2 function and related vesicle dynamics have been linked to susceptibility to oxidative stress, exogenous toxicants, and Parkinson's disease. To address a recent depletion of commonly used antibodies to VMAT2, we generated and characterized a novel rabbit polyclonal antibody generated against a 19 amino acid epitope corresponding to an antigenic sequence within the C-terminal tail of mouse VMAT2. We used genetic models of altered VMAT2 expression to demonstrate that the antibody specifically recognizes VMAT2 and localizes to synaptic vesicles. Furthermore, immunohistochemical labeling using this VMAT2 antibody produces immunoreactivity that is consistent with expected VMAT2 regional distribution. We show the distribution of VMAT2 in monoaminergic brain regions of mouse brain, notably the midbrain, striatum, olfactory tubercle, dopaminergic paraventricular nuclei, tuberomammillary nucleus, raphe nucleus, and locus coeruleus. Normal neurotransmitter vesicle dynamics are critical for proper health and functioning of the nervous system, and this well-characterized VMAT2 antibody will be a useful tool in studying neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by vesicular dysfunction.

Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) Level Regulates MPTP Vulnerability and Clearance of Excess Dopamine in Mouse Striatal Terminals.

The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) packages neurotransmitters for release during neurotransmission and sequesters toxicants into vesicles to prevent neuronal damage. In mice, low VMAT2 levels causes catecholaminergic cell loss and behaviors resembling Parkinson's disease, while high levels of VMAT2 increase dopamine release and protect against dopaminergic toxicants. However, comparisons across these VMAT2 mouse genotypes were impossible due to the differing genetic background strains of the animals. Following back-crossing to a C57BL/6 line, we confirmed that mice with approximately 95% lower VMAT2 levels compared with wild-type (VMAT2-LO) display significantly reduced vesicular uptake, progressive dopaminergic terminal loss with aging, and exacerbated 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. Conversely, VMAT2-overexpressing mice (VMAT2-HI) are protected from the loss of striatal terminals following MPTP treatment. We also provide evidence that enhanced vesicular filling in the VMAT2-HI mice modifies the handling of newly synthesized dopamine, indicated by changes in indirect measures of extracellular dopamine clearance. These results confirm the role of VMAT2 in the protection of vulnerable nigrostriatal dopamine neurons and may also provide new insight into the side effects of L-DOPA treatments in Parkinson's disease.