Stead S, Doering LC (2004) A novel mouse model for Parkinson’s disease using an immunotoxin directed at the dopamine transporter. Neuroscience 2004 Abstracts 563.1. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.

Summary: Current laboratory models of Parkinson’s disease utilize neurotoxins directed at midbrain dopamine neurons to mimic nigro-striatal dopaminergic neuron degeneration. To date, however, there is no single model that accurately simulates the pathogenic, histological, biochemical and clinical features relevant for the investigation of PD. The most common laboratory rodent model of Parkinson’s uses the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to cause relatively acute degeneration of the dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (Schwarting RKW and Huston JP, 1996, Prog Neurobiol., 50:275-331). Axonally transported toxins can be used to make selective lesions in the central nervous system. We have found that a slower degeneration of the SN can be achieved with an immunotoxin directed against the dopamine transporter (DAT). This immunotoxin, consisting of the highly active ribosome inactivating protein Saporin linked to an antibody to the dopamine transporter, was recently reported to cause selective degeneration of the SN in rats (Wiley RG et al., 2003, Cell Mol Neurobiol., 23:839-850.). We have shown that unilateral stereotaxic injection of the Anti-DAT-Saporin into the striatum of female C57BL6 mice causes a progressive reduction in the numbers of DA neurons in the SN in comparison to the non-lesioned hemisphere, and sham controls. Furthermore, in parallel to the immunohistochemical dopamine neuron death, the animals display a pronounced circling behaviour when challenged with apomorphine (6mg/kg). This model is akin to the gradual deterioration of the nigro-striatal system that occurs in Parkinson’s Disease and provides a system to intervene at various stages of dopamine neuron loss and evaluate the effectiveness of stem cell therapy.

Related Products: Anti-DAT-SAP (Cat. #IT-25)

Wiley RG, Harrison MB, Levey A, Lappi DA (2003) Destruction of midbrain dopaminergic neurons by using an immunotoxin to the dopamine transporter. Cell Mol Neurobiol 23:839-850. doi: 10.1023/a:1025065306264

Summary: The authors demonstrate the effective and specific removal of neurons expressing the dopamine transporter in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the ventral tegmental area with anti-DAT-SAP (Cat. #IT-25). A 21-µg icv injection produced a highly significant loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, creating a useful model for Parkinson’s disease.

Related Products: Anti-DAT-SAP (Cat. #IT-25)

Q: When performing intraparenchymal injections of immunotoxin, what is the proper volume to use? Is it better to induce two half-portions per hemisphere or is a higher concentration better? At what concentration do you expect necrosis or inflammation?

A: There is no one answer to the question of injection volume. Practically speaking, we have observed that large or extended structures such as the entire cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) of rats are difficult to ablate with one single injection of 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP, Cat. #IT-01). The best results were obtained with 3-5 separate 0.5-1.0 µl injections. For even larger targets such as the CBF in primates, other strategies may be necessary. Oldfield and co-workers have reported success in delivering cytotoxic chemotherapy to large volumes of brain using long, slow infusions of solutions containing a low concentration of toxin (convective delivery). This procedure delivers toxin by bulk fluid flow rather than diffusion and avoids high local toxin concentrations around the infusion catheter or pipette. High local concentrations of toxin may compromise selectivity and produce non-specific cytotoxicity. This can occur when neurons and glia take up toxic amounts of saporin by bulk fluid phase endocytosis, rather than receptor-mediated endocytosis. With direct intraparenchymal injections, local necrosis can occur with surprisingly small doses of toxin. For example, 60 ng of SP-SAP (Cat. #IT-07) or dermorphin-SAP (Cat. #IT-12) into the rat striatum injected in 1 µl typically produces some necrosis in the center of the injection site. With immunotoxins such as 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP) or Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), 200 ng in 0.5 µl may barely produce a trace of local damage.

Q: We are interested in the anti-Thy-1 nephritis model in rats. I want to know the titer of OX7-SAP (Cat. #IT-02) and how much we have to expend for each rat to establish the model?

A: The “titer” of OX7-SAP is rather difficult to define. It is not known precisely how many molecules of this immunotoxin are necessary to kill a thymic-derived (Thy-1-expressing) lymphocyte in vivo. Also, since OX7-SAP kills Thy-1-expressing lymphocytes, it may prove difficult to induce Thy-1 nephritis with the immunotoxin. In humans, proteinuria was reported in clinical trials using immunotoxins for treatment of cancer, but we do not know of any comparable data in rats. Probably the only way to determine the appropriate dose would be a dose ranging study.

Q: I have been doing research with 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP, Cat. #IT-01) for 2-3 years now. I have read in the literature that animals with cholinergic lesions often get sick following surgery and require potatoes, apples, lettuce and saline injections. They may even stop eating or drinking all together. I have followed these practices in the past, but stopped when it didn’t seem to make a difference. (I use a very small insignificant dose that is not prone to make animals ill). This is the first death I have had even remotely possibly related to the toxin. In short, the animal lost 64 grams over a period of 2 weeks, and expired 1-2 days thereafter. I weighed her at death and she was 139 grams (91 gram difference from her initial surgery weight). The rats in our colony are fed and given water ad libitum. However, we think that she dehydrated. She was given the same dose (1.1 microliters) as all of the other rats in the experiment. I do have other rats that were given injections from the same lot that do not appear to be sick or losing weight. I’m not sure what you can do with this information, but I would be grateful for whatever help you can offer.

In large series of intraventricular injections of 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP), I have never encountered quite the same sequence of events you describe. Death after intracranial toxin injection can reflect several possible misadventures including but not limited to:

1. Contamination of toxin solution with endotoxin resulting in death without awakening from anesthesia (usually due to bacterial contamination from prolonged exposure of toxin solution to room temperature),

2. Fatal intracranial hemorrhage which may result in delayed death depending on location and volume of bleeding,

3. Intracranial abscess (extremely unusual) from injection of contaminated solution, or

4. Unrelated bacterial, viral or parasitic systemic disease.

Q: Another one of my 192-Saporin-treated (or 192-IgG-SAP, Cat. #IT-01) rats is having an adverse reaction, including paralysis of the lower extremities. She has lost 40 grams in the past 3-4 days. Could this be Purkinje cell damage; does that happen after five weeks?

A: Purkinje cell damage after intraventricular injection of 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP) typically is manifest not by hind limb paralysis but rather tremor (shaking) and ataxia (clumsiness, poor balance). At less than lethal doses, 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP) does not produce paraparesis. Something else is going on. Rats develop hind limb paralysis from a variety of toxic or metabolic systemic insults in addition to specific nervous system disorders. The presence of rapid weight loss suggests the rat is systemically ill rather than an effect of a sub-lethal dose of 192-Saporin (192-IgG-SAP).

Selected references on convective delivery of toxin to brain:

Nguyen TT, Pannu YS, Sung C, Dedrick RL, Walbridge S, Brechbiel MW, Garmestani K, Beitzel M, Yordanov AT, Oldfield EH (2003) Convective distribution of macromolecules in the primate brain demonstrated using computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurosurg 98(3):584-590.

Morrison PF, Chen MY, Chadwick RS, Lonser RR, Oldfield EH (1999) Focal delivery during direct infusion to brain: role of flow rate, catheter diameter, and tissue mechanics. Am J Physiol 277(4 Pt 2):R1218-R1229.

Lonser RR, Corthesy ME, Morrison PF, Gogate N, Oldfield EH (1999) Convection-enhanced selective excitotoxic ablation of the neurons of the globus pallidus internus for treatment of Parkinsonism in nonhuman primates. J Neurosurg 91(2):294-302.

Wood JD, Lonser RR, Gogate N, Morrison PF, Oldfield EH (1999) Convective delivery of macromolecules into the naive and traumatized spinal cords of rats. J Neurosurg 90(1 Suppl):115-120.

Lonser RR, Gogate N, Morrison PF, Wood JD, Oldfield EH (1998) Direct convective delivery of macromolecules to the spinal cord. J Neurosurg 89(4):616-622.

Laske DW, Morrison PF, Lieberman DM, Corthesy ME, Reynolds JC, Stewart-Henney PA, Koong SS, Cummins A, Paik CH, Oldfield EH (1997) Chronic interstitial infusion of protein to primate brain: determination of drug distribution and clearance with single-photon emission computerized tomography imaging. J Neurosurg 87(4):586-594.

Lieberman DM, Laske DW, Morrison PF, Bankiewicz KS, Oldfield EH (1995) Convection-enhanced distribution of large molecules in gray matter during interstitial drug infusion. J Neurosurg 82(6):1021-1029.

Bobo RH, Laske DW, Akbasak A, Morrison PF, Dedrick RL, Oldfield EH (1994) Convection-enhanced delivery of macromolecules in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91(6):2076-2080.

Morrison PF, Laske DW, Bobo H, Oldfield EH, Dedrick RL (1994) High-flow microinfusion: tissue penetration and pharmacodynamics.Am J Physiol 266(1 Pt 2):R292-305.

See: Targeted Toxins