A parkinsonian syndrome induced in the goldfish by the neurotoxin MPTP.

Parkinson's disease has been modeled in humans, lower primates, and to a lesser extent in some other vertebrates by administration of the potent neurotoxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine). The MPTP model has thus drawn considerable attention as a system to search for anti-Parkinson's disease drugs, although the cost and scarcity of primates has limited extensive applications. We now report that a parkinsonian syndrome can be elicited in the common goldfish (Carassius auratus) by a single dose of MPTP. The syndrome is characterized by profound bradykinesia (slow movement), the full extent of which is reached 3 days after MPTP administration. The reduction in movement is paralleled by loss of dopamine and norepinephrine from the forebrain and midbrain and in other brain regions as well. The toxic oxidative product of MPTP, MPP+, is also accumulated predominantly in forebrain and midbrain, and pretreatment with the monoamine oxidase blocker tranylcypromine substantially reduces accumulation of the toxic metabolite. A barely perceptible coarseness in balance adjustment also occurs in treated animals. The MPTP-treated goldfish recover normal movement and normal brain monoamine levels within 10-13 days after administration of the drug. We interpret these and other data to indicate that MPTP can induce a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome in the goldfish that is similar in many aspects to the syndrome induced by MPTP in humans and other primates. This remarkable parallel may permit the goldfish to supplement expensive and scarce primates for the purpose of searching and screening neuroprotective drugs with specific relevance to Parkinson's disease.     

单侧帕金森病猴模型的行为、神经递质、多巴胺受体、病理及局部脑血流研究

经右侧颈总动脉注射甲基-苯基-四氢吡啶(MPTP)使猴产生左侧肢体动作减少、行动迟缓、震颤及向右侧缓慢旋转。应用美多巴和阿朴吗啡显著地改善单侧帕金森病(PD)症状,同时引起向左侧快速旋转,并呈明显的剂量依赖性;应用苯丙胺引起向右侧快速旋转。连续应用美多巴诱致单侧PD猴产生舞蹈手足徐动症。高效液相色谱测定显示右侧壳核、尾状核和黑质多巴胺(DA)含量显著降低。光镜发现右侧黑质神经元变性。SPECT活体显像发现病损侧纹状体D_2DA受体活性在病损初期无改变,病损严重时超敏,以及病损侧脑血流灌注减低。实验表明MPTP可建成理想的能形象地模拟人类PD的单侧PD猴模型。SPECT是活体研究PD病理生理的有效检测手段。     

Hemiparkinsonism in monkeys after unilateral internal carotid artery infusion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

Infusion of MPTP (0.2-0.8 mg/kg) into the right internal carotid artery of monkeys produces toxin-induced injury to the right nigrostriatal pathway with sparing of other dopaminergic neurones on the infused side and with negligible or little injury to the opposite, untreated side. There are contralateral limb dystonic postures, rigidity, and bradykinesia, but the animals are able to eat and maintain health without drug treatment. Spontaneous motor activity is attended by circling towards the injured side, whereas treatment with L-DOPA/-carbidopa or apomorphine stimulates circling towards the intact side. Dopamine and dopamine metabolite levels are normal in the left caudate and putamen, but markedly depressed on the right (MPTP-treated) side. This animal hemiparkinsonian model will be useful in studies of volitional movement control, drug treatments of Parkinson's disease, and functional efficacy of brain tissue implants.     

Distinct Changes in cAMP and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase Signalling in L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia

Background

In rodents, the development of dyskinesia produced by L-DOPA in the dopamine-depleted striatum occurs in response to increased dopamine D1 receptor-mediated activation of the cAMP - protein kinase A and of the Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathways. However, very little is known, in non-human primates, about the regulation of these signalling cascades and their association with the induction, manifestation and/or maintenance of dyskinesia.

Methodology/Results

We here studied, in the gold-standard non-human primate model of Parkinson''s disease, the changes in PKA-dependent phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and GluR1 AMPA receptor, as well as in ERK and ribosomal protein S6 (S6) phosphorylation, associated to acute and chronic administration of L-DOPA. Increased phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and GluR1 was observed in both L-DOPA first-ever exposed and chronically-treated dyskinetic parkinsonian monkeys. In contrast, phosphorylation of ERK and S6 was enhanced preferentially after acute L-DOPA administration and decreased during the course of chronic treatment.

Conclusion

Dysregulation of cAMP signalling is maintained during the course of chronic L-DOPA administration, while abnormal ERK signalling peaks during the initial phase of L-DOPA treatment and decreases following prolonged exposure. While cAMP signalling enhancement is associated with dyskinesia, abnormal ERK signalling is associated with priming.     

The effect of amiridin on the MPTP-induced Parkinson-like syndrome in monkeys]

Development of behavioral disturbances was investigated during N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration (0,2 mg/kg, i/m, at 48 h. intervals, total dose 11.2-13.2 mg/kg) in experiments on two monkeys Macaca rhesus. MPTP induced the complex of symptoms, which are typical for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Administration of amiridine (0,25-0,4 mg/kg) to MPTP-treated monkeys caused gradual decline of Parkinson syndrome. Mechanisms of action of amiridine are discussed.     

Primate model of parkinsonism: selective lesion of nigrostriatal neurons by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine produces an extrapyramidal syndrome in rhesus monkeys

Systemic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to rhesus monkeys (1.0-2.5 mg/kg i.v.) produces irreversible damage to nigrostriatal neurons. Dopaminergic neurons in the dorsolateral part of striatum were the most vulnerable. The major clinical signs of an extrapyramidal syndrome, but not resting tremor, appeared only in MPTP-treated monkeys suffering from more than 80% reduction in striatal dopamine. No chronic changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system were observed. Immunocytochemical staining of the mid-brain with a tyrosine hydroxylase antiserum indicated that MPTP produced a significant decrease of dopaminergic cell bodies in the A9, but not in the A10 ventrotegmental area. Despite greater than 80% decrease in A9 nigral cell bodies, the dopamine content decreased only by 50%. Sprouting of the surviving nigral A9 neurons was observed histologically and neurochemically in the area above substantia nigra. The present behavioral, neurochemical and histological results indicate that MPTP produces an ideal primate model for studying parkinsonism. Selective lesion of more than 80% of the nigrostrial neurons by MPTP is sufficient to produce the major clinical signs of the extrapyramidal syndrome in idiopathic parkinsonism.     

Decreased striatal levels of PEP-19 following MPTP lesion in the mouse

PEP-19 is a neuronal calmodulin-binding protein, and as such, a putative modulator of calcium regulated processes. In the present study, we used proteomics technology approaches such as peptidomics and imaging MALDI mass spectrometry, as well as traditional techniques (immunoblotting and in situ hybridization) to identify PEP-19 and, specifically, to measure PEP-19 mRNA and protein levels in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration in mice resulted in a significant decrease in striatal PEP-19 mRNA. Capillary nano-flow liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry analysis of striatal tissue revealed a significant decrease of the PEP-19 protein level. Moreover, imaging MALDI mass spectrometry also showed that PEP-19 protein was predominantly localized to the striatum of the brain tissue cross sections. After MPTP administration, PEP-19 levels were significantly reduced by 30%. We conclude that PEP-19 mRNA and protein expression are decreased in the striatum of a common animal model of Parkinson's disease. Further studies are needed to show the specific involvement of PEP-19 in the neurodegeneration seen in MPTP lesioned animals. Finally, this study has shown that the combination of traditional molecular biology techniques with novel, highly specific and sensitive mass spectrometry methods is advantageous in characterizing molecular events of many diseases, including Parkinson's disease.     

Effect of preferential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced striatal lesions in rats: behavioral, biochemical and histological evidences

Cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzyme is known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of nimesulide, a preferential COX-2-inhibitor against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tertahydropyridine (MPTP)-model of Parkinson's disease. Intrastriatal administration of MPTP (32 micromol in 2 microl) produced a significant decrease in the locomotor activity. Biochemical investigation of striatal region revealed a significant enhancement in the oxidative stress as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation levels, nitrite levels and myeloperoxidase activity along with depleted antioxidant pool (reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels) and reduced redox (GSH/GSSG) ratio. MPTP administration also showed significant mitochondrial complex-I inhibition and reduction in the mitochondrial viability. Histological examination of the MPTP-treated brain sections revealed alteration in the histo-architecture as well as undifferentiated bodies of varying contour and lesions. Chronic administration of nimesulide (5 or 10 mg/kg, po) for 12 days, significantly reversed the behavioral, biochemical, mitochondrial and histological alterations induced by MPTP. In conclusion, the findings of the present study implicate the possible neuroprotective potential of nimesulide in MPTP-treated rats and thus highlight the therapeutic potential of COX-inhibitors in treatment of Parkinson's disease.     

Ethanol triggers sphingosine 1-phosphate elevation along with neuroapoptosis in the developing mouse brain

Recent studies suggest that l-3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia (LID), a severe complication of conventional L-DOPA therapy of Parkinson's disease, may be caused by dopamine (DA) release originating in serotonergic neurons. To evaluate the in vivo effect of a 5-HT(1A) agonist [(±)-8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino) tetralin hydrobromide, 8-OHDPAT] on the L-DOPA-induced increase in extracellular DA and decrease in [(11) C]raclopride binding in an animal model of advanced Parkinson's disease and LID, we measured extracellular DA in response to L-DOPA or a combination of L-DOPA and the 5-HT(1A) agonist, 8-OHDPAT, with microdialysis, and determined [(11) C]raclopride binding to DA receptors, with micro-positron emission tomography, as the surrogate marker of DA release. Rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions had micro-positron emission tomography scans with [(11) C]raclopride at baseline and after two pharmacological challenges with L-DOPA?+?benserazide with or without 8-OHDPAT co-treatment. Identical challenge regimens were used with the subsequent microdialysis concomitant with ratings of LID severity. The baseline increase of [(11) C]raclopride-binding potential (BP(ND) ) in lesioned striatum was eliminated by the L-DOPA challenge, while the concurrent administration of 8-OHDPAT prevented this L-DOPA-induced displacement of [(11) C]raclopride significantly in lesioned ventral striatum and near significantly in the dorsal striatum. With microdialysis, the L-DOPA challenge raised the extracellular DA in parallel with the emergence of strong LID. Co-treatment with 8-OHDPAT significantly attenuated the release of extracellular DA and LID. The 8-OHDPAT co-treatment reversed the L-DOPA-induced decrease of [(11) C]raclopride binding and increase of extracellular DA and reduced the severity of LID. The reversal of the effect of L-DOPA on [(11) C]raclopride binding, extracellular DA and LID by 5-HT agonist administration is consistent with the notion that part of the DA increase associated with LID originates in serotonergic neurons.     

Effect of dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP/MPP+ on coenzyme Q content

Coenzyme Q10, an endogenous lipophilic antioxidant, plays an indispensable role in ATP synthesis. The therapeutic value of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders is still being tested and the preliminary results are promising. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mouse is a valid and accepted animal model for Parkinson's disease. 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) is an active toxic metabolite of MPTP. MPP(+) and MPTP are known to induce oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the effect of MPP(+) and MPTP on coenzyme Q is not clearly understood. The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo effect of MPP(+) and MPTP on coenzyme Q content. Coenzyme Q content was measured using HPLC-UV detection methods. In the in vitro studies, MPP(+) (0-50 microM) was incubated with SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and NG-108-15 (mouse/rat, neuroblastomaxglioma hybrid) cells. MPP(+) concentration dependently increased coenzyme Q10 content in SH-SY5Y cells. In NG-108-15 cells, MPP(+) concentration dependently increased both coenzyme Q9 and Q10 content. In the in vivo study, mice were administered with MPTP (30 mg/kg, twice 16 h apart) and sacrificed one week after the last administration. Administration of MPTP to mice significantly increased coenzyme Q9 and coenzyme Q10 levels in the nigrostriatal tract. However, MPTP did not affect the coenzyme Q content in the cerebellum, cortex and pons. This study demonstrated that MPP(+)/MPTP significantly affected the coenzyme Q content in the SH-SY5Y and NG-108 cells and in the mouse nigrostriatal tract.     

Central and peripheral catecholamine depletion by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in rodents

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) given in single doses to rats depleted norepinephrine concentration in heart and mesenteric artery but had little effect on catecholamine concentration in brain. MPTP did not share with amphetamine the ability to cause persistent depletion of striatal dopamine in iprindole-treated rats. Administration of MPTP via osmotic minipumps implanted s.c. for 24 hrs after a loading dose of MPTP in rats resulted in depletion of striatal dopamine and its metabolites one week later. MPTP in vitro was a reasonably potent, competitive and reversible inhibitor of MAO-A (monoamine oxidase type A). MPTP appeared to inhibit MAO-A in rat brain in vivo as determined by its antagonism of the inactivation of MAO-A by pargyline and by its antagonism of the increase in dopamine metabolites resulting from the administration of Ro 4-1284, a dopamine releaser. The inhibition of MAO-B by MPTP in vitro was noncompetitive, time-dependent, and not fully reversed by dialysis, consistent with the findings of others that MPTP is acted upon by MAO-B. In mice, four successive daily doses of MPTP is acted upon by MAO-B. In mice, four successive daily doses of MPTP given s.c. resulted in marked depletion of dopamine and its metabolites one week later, and the depletion of dopamine was completely prevented by pretreatment with deprenyl, which inhibited MAO-B but not MAO-A. These and other studies in rodents may help in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the destructive effects of MPTP on striatal dopamine neurons that lead to symptoms of Parkinson's disease in humans and in monkeys.     

Neuroprotection by adenosine A2A receptor blockade in experimental models of Parkinson's disease

Adenosine A2A receptors are abundant in the caudate-putamen and involved in the motor control in several species. In MPTP-treated monkeys, A2A receptor-blockade with an antagonist alleviates parkinsonian symptoms without provoking dyskinesia, suggesting this receptor may offer a new target for the antisymptomatic therapy of Parkinson's disease. In the present study, a significant neuroprotective effect of A2A receptor antagonists is shown in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Oral administration of A2A receptor antagonists protected against the loss of nigral dopaminergic neuronal cells induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in rats. A2A antagonists also prevented the functional loss of dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum and the ensuing gliosis caused by MPTP in mice. The neuroprotective property of A2A receptor antagonists may be exerted by altering the packaging of these neurotoxins into vesicles, thus reducing their effective intracellular concentration. We therefore conclude that the adenosine A2A receptor may provide a novel target for the long-term medication of Parkinson's disease, because blockade of this receptor exerts both acutely antisymptomatic and chronically neuroprotective activities.     

Experimental models of Parkinson's disease: insights from many models.

Toxin-induced and genetic experimental models have been invaluable in investigating idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). The neurotoxins--reserpine, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and methamphetamine--have been used to develop parkinsonian models in a wide variety of species. Both 6-OHDA and MPTP can replicate the neurochemical, morphologic, and behavioral changes seen in human disease. The unilateral 6-OHDA rat model is an excellent model for testing and determining modes of action of new pharmacologic compounds. The nonhuman primate MPTP-induced parkinsonian model has behavioral features that best approximate idiopathic PD. These induced and genetic models have been used to study the pathophysiology of the degenerating nigrostriatal system and to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies. Important differences within these models provide insights into various aspects of the dopaminergic phenotype and its role as a target in disease. These models provide an avenue to evaluate many anti-parkinsonian compounds, such as levodopa, which was first evaluated in an animal model and is the gold standard of parkinsonian treatment today.     

The locus coeruleus is directly implicated in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in parkinsonian rats: an electrophysiological and behavioural study

Despite being the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease, L-DOPA causes a development of dyskinetic movements in the majority of treated patients. L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia is attributed to a dysregulated dopamine transmission within the basal ganglia, but serotonergic and noradrenergic systems are believed to play an important modulatory role. In this study, we have addressed the role of the locus coeruleus nucleus (LC) in a rat model of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Single-unit extracellular recordings in vivo and behavioural and immunohistochemical approaches were applied in rats rendered dyskinetic by the destruction of the nigrostriatal dopamine neurons followed by chronic treatment with L-DOPA. The results showed that L-DOPA treatment reversed the change induced by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions on LC neuronal activity. The severity of the abnormal involuntary movements induced by L-DOPA correlated with the basal firing parameters of LC neuronal activity. Systemic administration of the LC-selective noradrenergic neurotoxin N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine did not modify axial, limb, and orolingual dyskinesia, whereas chemical destruction of the LC with ibotenic acid significantly increased the abnormal involuntary movement scores. These results are the first to demonstrate altered LC neuronal activity in 6-OHDA lesioned rats treated with L-DOPA, and indicate that an intact noradrenergic system may limit the severity of this movement disorder.     

Pramipexole protects against MPTP toxicity in non-human primates

The neurotoxin MPTP induces nigral dopaminergic cell death in primates and produces a partial model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Pramipexole is a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist used in the symptomatic treatment of PD, and which also protects neuronal cells against dopaminergic toxins in vitro. We now demonstrate that pramipexole partially prevents MPTP toxicity in vivo in a primate species. Common marmosets were repeatedly treated with pramipexole either before, coincidentally with, or after low-dose MPTP treatment designed to induce a partial lesion of the substantia nigra. Animals pretreated with pramipexole had a significantly greater number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurones in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. Pramipexole pretreatment also prevented degeneration of striatal dopamine terminals. Treatment with pramipexole concurrently with MPTP or following MPTP did not prevent TH-positive cell loss. Pramipexole pretreatment appears to induce adaptive changes that protect against dopaminergic cell loss in primates.     

The effect of subchronic, intermittent L-DOPA treatment on neuronal nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase expression and activity in the striatum and midbrain of normal and MPTP-treated mice

We have investigated the effects of low (10 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg) doses of L-DOPA on the expression and activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and guanylyl cyclase (GC) in the striatum and midbrain of mice. L-DOPA was administered subchronically for 11 days (beginning 3 days after last MPTP/NaCl injection) or for 14 days (with dosing started immediately following the last MPTP/NaCl injection). Adult mice received three intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of physiological saline or MPTP at 2h intervals (total dose of 40 mg/kg). Normal and MPTP-injected mice were treated twice a day for 11 or 14 days with low (10/2.5 mg/kg bw) or high (100/25mg/kg bw) doses of L-DOPA/benserazide. The present study indicates that several days of treatment with L-DOPA does not affect MPTP-activation of the nNOS/sGC/cGMP pathway or the neurodegenerative processes that occur in the striatum and midbrain of mice. In normal mice, L-DOPA upregulates the expression and activity of nNOS and GC to levels found in MPTP-injected mice. Due to upregulation of nNOS and GC, cGMP levels in the mouse striatum and midbrain are also elevated, however, significantly lower in mice administrated with low dose of L-DOPA. In both investigated brain regions of normal mice cGMP-dependent PDEs activities were elevated after low dose administration of L-DOPA, but no change in PDEs activities has been detected in MPTP and high L-DOPA-injected mice as compared to control values. The enhancement of nNOS mRNA and GCbeta1 mRNA levels were generated by both doses of L-DOPA, given in a time-dependent fashion. L-DOPA-injected for 11 or 14 days caused a decrease in TH protein levels in the striatum and midbrain, respectively; this result was noted irrespective of dose. L-DOPA therapy did not prevent the MPTP-induced decrease in TH protein levels in either investigated brain region.     

Nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Oxidative stress has been proposed as one of several pathogenic hypotheses. Evidence for the participation of oxidative processes in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease have been obtained in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model by the use of genetically altered mice. MPTP administration has been shown to increase levels of superoxide both intracellularly, via the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and other mechanisms and extracellularly, via the activation of NADPH-oxidase in microglia. In addition to superoxide, nitric oxide production by nNOS or by microglial iNOS also contributes to the MPTP neurotoxocity. Mice with endowed defences against superoxide or with deficiency in the nNOS and iNOS are protected from MPTP toxicity suggesting that formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates both intracellularly and extracellularly contributes to the demise of dopaminergic neurons. Similar contribution of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species may well underlie the neurodegenerative processes in Parkinson's disease.     

Dopaminergic cell death precedes iron elevation in MPTP-injected monkeys

Though increasing lines of evidence suggest that iron accumulation and iron-induced oxidative stress might be important pathological factors responsible for substantia nigra (SN) cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD), it is still unknown whether iron accumulation is a primary cause or consequence of nigral cell death. Using nuclear microscopy, iron histochemistry, TUNEL method for apoptosis detection, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry, the present study investigated possible changes in iron contents in the SN and correlations of dopaminergic cell death progression with the process of iron accumulation in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced parkinsonian monkey from 1 d to 18 months after MPTP administration. Our study demonstrated that apoptosis occurred in the ipsilateral SN at 1 d after MPTP injection and the number of TH-positive cells decreased significantly from 1 week onward. However, iron content was significantly increased in the ipsilateral SN from 4.5 months to 18 months after MPTP injection, and the iron increase was significantly correlated to the extent of dopaminergic cell death. These results suggest that dopaminergic cell death induced by MPTP administration might lead to iron accumulation in the monkey SN, and increased iron might contribute to the progression of nigral degeneration.     

Dopamine transporter binding is unaffected by L-DOPA administration in normal and MPTP-treated monkeys

Background

Radiotracer imaging of the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic system is used to assess disease progression in Parkinson''s disease (PD) and may provide a useful adjunct to clinical assessment during therapeutic trials of potential neuroprotective agents. Several clinical trials comparing dopamine agonists to L-DOPA or early vs. late L-DOPA have revealed differences between clinical assessment and imaging of the presynaptic dopaminergic system, hence questioning the comparability of these measures as neuroprotection outcome variables. Thus, results of these studies may have been affected by factors other than the primary biological process investigated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We tested the possibility that L-DOPA might interfere with DAT binding. Post-mortem DAT binding was conducted in normal and MPTP-treated macaque monkeys that were administered L-DOPA, acutely or chronically. In parallel, DAT SPECT was conducted in MPTP-treated animals that were administered chronic L-DOPA. [99mTc]TRODAT-1 SPECT binding was similarly reduced in all MPTP monkeys regardless of L-DOPA treatment. L-DOPA had no significant effect on post-mortem DAT binding either in saline or in MPTP-lesioned animals.

Conclusions/Significance

These data indicate that L-DOPA does not induce modifications of DAT expression detectable by SPECT of by DAT binding autoradiography, suggesting that differences between clinical assessment and radiotracer imaging in clinical trials may not be specifically related to L-DOPA treatment.     

The effects of docosahexaenoic acid on glial derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin in bilateral rat model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder marked by cell death in the Substantia nigra (SN). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the phospholipid fraction of the brain and is required for normal cellular function. Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) are very potent trophic factors for PD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of GDNF and NTN by investigating their immunostaining levels after administration of DHA in a model of PD. For this reason we hypothesized that DHA administration of PD might alter GDNF, NTN expression in SN. MPTP neurotoxin that induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration was used to create the experimental Parkinsonism model. Rats were divided into; control, DHA-treated (DHA), MPTP-induced (MPTP), MPTP-induced+DHA-treated (MPTP+DHA) groups. Dopaminergic neuron numbers were clearly decreased in MPTP, but showed an increase in MPTP+DHA group. As a result of this, DHA administration protected dopaminergic neurons as shown by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. In the MPTP+DHA group, GDNF, NTN immunoreactions in dopaminergic neurons were higher than that of the MPTP group. In conclusion, the characterization of GDNF and NTN will certainly help elucidate the mechanism of DHA action, and lead to better strategies for the use of DHA to treat neurodegenerative diseases.