Abstract
The therapeutic potential of BL-1023, a chemical combination of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was investigated in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxicated mice. Such animals exhibit nigrostriatal degeneration, characteristic of human Parkinson's disease. Drug was administered during and after the development of MPTP-induced nigrostriatal lesions followed by measures of motor function and behavior, surviving nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and termini, and striatal dopamine levels. When administered after lesion development, BL-1023 improved motor function of MPTP-mice as measured by rotarod, total floor and vertical plane movements, and stereotypic movements in open field activity tests compared to MPTP-mice without treatment. This also paralleled modest nigral dopaminergic neuronal protection. Such significant improvements in motor function, behaviors, and dopaminergic neuronal numbers were not seen when BL-1023 was administered during MPTP-induced lesion development. The data demonstrate select abilities of BL-1023 to increase dopaminergic neuronal survival and improve motor function in MPTP-mice.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 293-304 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Neuroscience |
Volume | 180 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 28 2011 |
Keywords
- 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
- Behavior
- Dopamine
- Motor function
- Neuroprotection
- Parkinson's disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience