.. Figure 12 Increased levels of dopamine transporter in the dorsal striatum. Shown in the right panels are representative photomicrographs of immunofluorescence staining for dopamine transporter (DAT) (green) in the dorsal striatum 11 weeks postvehicle and rotenone … Discussion The key features that define idiopathic PD are the loss of DA neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, the accompanying bradykinesia, and rigidity and the presence of α-synuclein inclusions in the SN (Litvan et al. 2007). Symptomatic PD is thought to occur when there Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical is approximately 80% reduction in DA

terminals in the dorsal striatum and 50% reduction in DA neurons in SN(Bernheimer et al. 1973). Characterizing the neuroanatomical localization and degree of synucleinopathy in postmortem tissue reveals PD to be a progressive, multisystem disease, affecting select populations of neurons in motor, autonomic, and limbic systems (Braak and Del Tredici 2008). The seminal work of Braak and colleagues (2004) describes the developmental stages of PD from presymptomatic synucleinopathy of olfactory and autonomic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical brain areas to the symptomatic involvement of the basal ganglia and cortex. Dickson and coworkers Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (2008) reported incidental Lewy bodies in clinically normal individuals over the age of 60 years. TH levels in the striatum were reduced in

these individuals, but not to the level of PD patients. The reduction in TH in the dorsal striatum and loss of DA neurons and the presence of putative Lewy bodies in the SN in this phenotypic model recapitulating the neuropathology of Parkinson’s disease is critical, and key to the characterization and relevance of this model to human PD. Consequently, synucleinopathy as evidenced Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in this model may be a biomarker of early loss of DA neurons that has

not exceeded the threshold leading to loss of function. The etiology of idiopathic PD is not known. It is most prevalent in aging populations around the world (Bower et al. 2000; Van Den Eeden et al. 2003). Old age along with genetic susceptibility and environmental Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical SCH 900776 cell line toxins are all contributing factors to the development of PD. There is compelling data from many sources that disruption of mitochondrial respiration at complex 1 of electron transport chain in DA neurons is a contributing factor to PD (Bindoff et al. 1989; Parker et al. 1989; Schapira et al. 1989, 1990; Shoffner PAK6 et al. 1991; Cardellach et al. 1993; Blin et al. 1994; Swerdlow et al. 1996; Champy et al. 2004; Perier et al. 2007). Evidence to this point began with the unfortunate, but scientifically invaluable observation where drug addicts exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its subsequent conversion to MAPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium), a specific inhibitor of complex 1 and a substrate for the dopamine transporter, developed signs and symptoms of idiopathic PD (Langston et al. 1983, 1999; Ballard et al. 1985).