The overall objective of this research proposal is to determine the mechanisms that underlie motor complications (""""""""peak-dose"""""""" dyskinesia and """"""""end of dose"""""""" failure) in MPTP parkinsonian monkeys treated with levodopa (L-dopa). The progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra is the critical lesion in Parkinson's disease and reduces dopaminergic terminals in the striatum. Motor function in parkinsonian patients is critically dependent on sustained striatal dopaminergic stimulation. L-dopa replishment therapy has been the major advance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The hypothesis that is the foundation of this proposal is that as the disease progresses there is a decrease in the striatal storage capacity for dopamine. This results in high peak brain extracellular fluid levels of L-dopa, which is disproportionately metabolized to 3-0-methyldopa instead of dopamine. High peak striatal extracellular fluid accumulation of 3-0-methyldopa would then interfer with the normal delivery of dopamine to its postsynaptic receptor or interfere with its function. Thirty male cynomolgous monkeys will be used in this study. Twenty two monkeys will be made parkinsonian by intravenous injections of MPTP. Eight animals will be used as controls. The control group will consist of four animals that will receive chronic L-dopa treatment and four animals that will not. In the parkinsonian group 18 animals will receive chronic L-dopa treatment and four animals will not. Chronic L-dopa treatment of parkinsonian monkeys will start 90 days after the final MPTP dose. L-dopa will be administered orally twice daily for 12 weeks. Parkinson's disease is the best understood of the neurodgenerative disorders for which a partially effective neurotransmitter replenishment therapy has been devised. A better understanding of how L-dopa replenishment therapy works, and what the mechanisms of L-dopa therapy complications are would be invaluable in designing neurotransmitter replenishment therapies for neurodegenerative diseases in general.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS027107-02
Application #
3413286
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1989-04-01
Project End
1992-03-31
Budget Start
1990-04-01
Budget End
1991-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
061197161
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Alexander, G M; Schwartzman, R J; Grothusen, J R et al. (1993) Changes in brain dopamine receptors in MPTP parkinsonian monkeys following L-dopa treatment. Brain Res 625:276-82
Snyder, J W; Alexander, G M; Ferraro, T N et al. (1993) N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) potentiates the killing of cultured hepatocytes by catecholamines. Chem Biol Interact 88:209-23
Alexander, G M; Schwartzman, R J; Brainard, L et al. (1992) Changes in brain catecholamines and dopamine uptake sites at different stages of MPTP parkinsonism in monkeys. Brain Res 588:261-9
Alexander, G M; Brainard, D L; Gordon, S W et al. (1991) Dopamine receptor changes in untreated and (+)-PHNO-treated MPTP parkinsonian primates. Brain Res 547:181-9