Neuroscience
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The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and the resulting striatal dopamine deficiency, which are responsible for the classic motor features. Although a diagnosis of PD relies on the clinical effects of dopamine deficiency, this disease is also associated with other neurotransmitter deficits that are recognized as causing various motor and non-motor symptoms. However, the cause of dopaminergic nigral neurodegeneration in PD and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. ⋯ The short- (6-day) and long-term (32-day) progression of motor alterations was studied. This model leads to a bilateral and progressive increase in catalepsy (evident from the 3rd infusion in the short-term groups (p<0.01) and from the 7th infusion in the long-term groups (p<0.01), which was associated with a progressive nigrostriatal dopaminergic deficit. All together this makes the new model an interesting experimental tool to investigate the mechanisms involved in the progression of dopaminergic neurodegeneration.