Dopamine Release Neuroenergetics in Mouse Striatal Slices.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which have axonal projections to the dorsal striatum (dSTR), degenerate in PD. In contrast, DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area, with axonal projections to the ventral striatum, including the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell, are largely spared.

Measurement of Oxygen Consumption Rate in Acute Striatal Slices from Adult Mice.

Mitochondria play an important role in cellular ATP production, reactive oxygen species regulation, and Ca concentration control. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. To study the role of mitochondria in models of these diseases, we can measure mitochondrial respiration via oxygen consumption rate (OCR) as a proxy for mitochondrial function.

Physiological and pathological roles of LRRK2 in the nuclear envelope integrity.

Mutations in LRRK2 cause autosomal dominant and sporadic Parkinson's disease, but the mechanisms involved in LRRK2 toxicity in PD are yet to be fully understood. We found that LRRK2 translocates to the nucleus by binding to seven in absentia homolog (SIAH-1), and in the nucleus it directly interacts with lamin A/C, independent of its kinase activity. LRRK2 knockdown caused nuclear lamina abnormalities and nuclear disruption.