Parkinson's Efficacy Model

Figure 1: Immunohistochemical visualization of mouse brain striatum samples from a control group (sterile saline 1-m1) and a MPTP (3-m23 at 17 mg/kg) treated groups

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequently occurring neurodegenerative disease today. While the neuropathology of PD involves a number of different neurotransmitter pathways, the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway is one that is severely affected by this disease. This pathway is studied using a dopamine neurotoxin induced mouse model, the MPTP model. The MPTP Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model has been validated and is currently in use at Southern Research. In our laboratory, we were able to obtain greater than 70% decrease in dopamine and dopamine metabolites measured in the brain striatum, as compared to a saline control group while maintaining stable catecholamine levels during the study. Additionally we were able to achieve significant losses of dopaminergic neurons via histochemcial visualization.

This model can be used to evaluate compounds for prophylactic and/or therapeutic use. Using a standard study design, we can determine the efficacy of multiple compounds at several dose levels with common control groups. In this design, comparisons can be made between compounds and between different doses or formulations of the same compound from the biogenic amine assay and unbiased stereology.