title: Antiparkinsonian activity of Ro 25-6981, a NR2B subunit specific NMDA receptor antagonist, in animal models of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists have antiakinetic and antidyskinetic effects in animals models of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, non-selective inhibition of NMDA receptors throughout the central nervous system may result in undesired effects such as ataxia and psychosis. We therefore studied Ro 25-6981, an activity-dependent antagonist of NMDA receptors containing the NR2B subunit which are predominantly expressed in the striatum. Ro 25-6981 induced contraversive rotations in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats without stimulating locomotion in normal rats and reversed parkinsonian symptoms in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6,-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated common marmosets. Due to the small number of marmosets, there were no significant differences between Ro 25-6981 and vehicle though there was a significant trend toward differences, as shown by the Page test. Furthermore, Ro 25-6981 potentiated the action of levodopa in both species and attenuated the maximal levodopa response in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats chronically treated with levodopa without reducing the overall response. Ro 25-6981 also potentiated the action of the dopamine receptor agonists apomorphine, A68930 and quinpirole in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The present observations suggest a therapeutic potential of NR2B-selective NMDA receptor antagonists in the management of PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter-Andreas
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Löschmann
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Groote
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ullrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wüllner
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jenner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klockgether
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002144:Callithrix; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D016627:Oxidopamine; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D010636:Phenols; D010880:Piperidines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C109643:Ro 25-6981; D007980:Levodopa; D016627:Oxidopamine; D001058:Apomorphine