Apomorphine induced c-fos expression in the striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats

Aim To observe the c-fos expression in the caudate-putman of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats after Apomorphine intraperitoneal injection and to investigate the inherent mechanism of it. Methods Rats received a unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into SNc. The abnormal rotations induced by Apomorphine (APO) were investigated 1、7、14 d and 21 d after lesion.Meanwhile dopaminergic derogation and c-fos expression were observed with Nissl body staining,eletronicmicroscopic and immunocytochemistry methods. Results The number of dopaminergic neurons decreased gradually in the lesioned site and its eletronicmicroscopic structure was damaged. When over 80% dopaminergic neurons were lossed , contralateral rotations surpassed 7 r·min~(1) and c-fos expressed in the ipsilateral striatum. Conclusion APO induces c-fos expression in the ipsilateral striatum. Intrinsic relations may exist between dopaminergic neurons deletion and c-fos expression