Striatal enkephalin gene expression does not reflect parkinsonian signs.

Loss of striatal dopamine has been associated with an increase in striatal enkephalin expression. However, the relationship between increased striatal enkephalin expression and the manifestation of parkinsonian motor deficits is not clear. Administration of MPTP to cats produces a severe parkinsonian condition from which the animals spontaneously recover. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA expression was examined in the striatum of cats when normal, symptomatic for or spontaneously recovered from MPTP-induced parkinsonism. In all areas of the striatum, PPE mRNA levels were significantly elevated in animals exhibiting severe parkinsonian motor deficits and remained elevated even after recovery of gross motor functioning. These results show that striatal PPE gene expression and parkinsonian motor deficits are not directly correlated.