RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Short-Term GDNF Treatment Provides Long-Term Rescue of Lesioned Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 7206
OP 7215
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-22-07206.1996
VO 16
IS 22
A1 Winkler, Christian
A1 Sauer, Hansjörg
A1 Lee, Chong S.
A1 Björklund, Anders
YR 1996
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/16/22/7206.abstract
AB Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects on dopamine (DA) neurons in vivo. Here we report long-term rescue of nigral DA neurons after delayed short-term GDNF administration in a rat lesion model that reproduces the slowly progressing degenerative process seen in Parkinson’s disease. GDNF injected close to the substantia nigra provided near-complete protection and persistent survival of the lesioned nigral neurons for at least 4 months after discontinuation of GDNF treatment. Long-term rescue of the nigral cells, however, was not accompanied by any significant reinnervation of the lesioned striatal target or any signs of functional recovery in either drug-induced or spontaneous motor behaviors. We conclude that not only preservation of the nigral DA neurons but also restoration of striatal DA function is necessary for functional recovery in the rat Parkinson model.