Alpha-Synuclein in PD: Pathogenesis and Treatment
Abstract
Parkinsons disease is caused, in part, by over expression and misfolding of a protein named alpha synuclein. The experiments in this year of the application were aimed at establishing a bilateral nonhuman primate model of Parkinsons disease focusing on replicating the over-expression and misfolding of alpha synuclein. Ten aged monkeys comprised this study. Following preoperative baseline testing, five monkeys received bilateral intranigral injections of an AAV vector encoding for human alpha synuclein. The remaining monkeys received identical injections of the reporter gene green fluorescent protein. For 16 weeks, monkeys received repeated beta-CIT SPECT scans to monitor dopaminergic function, clinical rating scale score, hand reach scores, and general activity measurements. None of these measures revealed differences between control and alpha synuclein treated monkeys. These animals have recently been sacrificed and are being evaluated for correct neuroanatomical placement and reasonable transgene expression in order to determine whether biological or technical issues resulted in the failure to create this model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1007909
Entities
People
- Jeffrey H. Kordower
Organizations
- Rush University Medical Center