Interaction of GPR173 with the Dopaminergic system in the Zebrafish brain

GPR173 is a novel orphan receptor that has been found to have association with heridatary Parkinson's disease. This study aims to localize GPR173 in the zebrafish brain and to investigate its association with the dopaminergic system. GPR173 was found localized in the medial diencephalon and central nucleus of the inferior lobe and fibers in close proximity with dopaminergic fibers in the interpeduncular nucleus. Suppresion of GPR173 produced changes in the dopaminergic system however the production of a Parkinson's disease model in the zebrafish was unsuccesful. Overall, this study shows that GPR173 may modulate the dopaminergic system via an indirect mechanism.