Fetal dopamine neuron transplants prevent behavioral supersensitivity induced by repeated administration of L-dopa in the rat.
We have studied in adult rats bearing a unilateral nigral lesion the effect of nigral grafts into the striatum on behavioral supersensitivity induced by chronic treatment of L-DOPA (100 mg/kg i.p.) plus benserazide (50 mg/kg i.p.). Repeated administration of L-DOPA increases contraversive circling. In rats without graft the contraversive circling was significantly increased after 8 and 14 daily injections of L-DOPA. On the other hand, the animals with transplants showed no such increase. Behavioral supersensitivity induced by repeated treatment of L-DOPA is often correlated with dyskinesia observed in the Parkinsonian patients. This suggests that the graft might be able to prevent this secondary effect.
Gaudin
D P
DP
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
Rioux
L
L
Bédard
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D016627:Oxidopamine; D004298:Dopamine