Asymmetrical response of aminopeptidase A in the medial prefrontal cortex and striatum of 6-OHDA-unilaterally-lesioned Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aminopeptidase A is responsible for the hydrolysis of angiotensin II and cholecystokinin. By measuring its activity we obtain a reflection of the functional status of its endogenous substrates. Dopamine coexists with these neuropeptides in striatum and prefrontal cortex. If the content of any of them is altered, the others and the functions they are involved in would also be affected. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are rat models with different motor behavior and mood. We hypothesized that aminopeptidase A activity could be modified in WKY or SHR affecting the brain dopamine. The results may provide new insights for the understanding of dopamine-related disorders such as schizophrenia, depression or Parkinson's disease. To analyze the influence of unilateral depletions of dopamine on the intra- and inter-hemispheric behavior of aminopeptidase A in striatum and prefrontal cortex of WKY and SHR, aminopeptidase A activity was measured fluorometrically, using an arylamide derivative as substrate, in the left and right sides of striatum and prefrontal cortex of WKY and SHR treated with saline (control groups) or following left or right intrastriatal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (lesioned groups). Differential asymmetrical intra- and inter-hemispheric behaviors of aminopeptidase A were observed, depending on the lesioned hemisphere, the region and the strain analyzed. Results also demonstrated differential intra and inter-hemispheric correlations between striatum and prefrontal cortex and between both regions and motor behavior depending on the side of lesion. The changes mostly involved the left hemisphere. The functions in which the aminopeptidase A activity is involved could be modified depending on whether the dopamine depletion occurs on the left or right hemisphere.