Neuronal transplantation and neurotrophic factors in the treatment of Parkinson's disease--update February 1995.
This review focuses on two restorative strategies against Parkinson's disease: (1) intrastriatal implantation of fetal dopamine producing cells and (2) application of neurotrophic factors. (1) Neuronal transplantation of dopaminergic embryonic ventral mesencephalic cells aims at compensating the striatal dopamine deficit in Parkinson's disease. Clinically, dopaminergic ventral mesencephalic grafts have been demonstrated to ameliorate rigidity, bradykinesia, and efficacy of L-DOPA therapy, for instance reduction of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias and ON-OFF-fluctuations. Future experimental refinements predominantly concern the improvement of survival of the transplanted fetal dopaminergic neurons and the use of genetically modified cells. (2) Neurotrophic factor therapy relates to the prevention and/or restoration of the progressing nigral cell loss in Parkinson's disease. In this regard special emphasis is put on the newly characterized glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). More recent results and perspectives of this concept are discussed.
Kupsch
A
A
Department of Neurology, LM University, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Oertel
W H
WH
Earl
C D
CD
Sautter
J
J
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005060:Europe; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009474:Neurons / Q000637:transplantation*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D004298:Dopamine