Docosahexaenoic acid reduces levodopa-induced dyskinesias in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine monkeys.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3), on levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) in parkinsonian 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys.


METHODS
We explored the effect of DHA in two paradigms. First, a group of MPTP monkeys was primed with levodopa for several months before introducing DHA. A second group of MPTP monkeys (de novo) was exposed to DHA before levodopa therapy.


RESULTS
DHA administration reduced LIDs in both paradigms without alteration of the anti-parkinsonian effect of levodopa indicating that DHA can reduce the severity or delay the development of LIDs in a nonhuman primate model of Parkinson's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that DHA can reduce the severity or delay the development of LIDs in a nonhuman primate model of Parkinson's disease. DHA may represent a new approach to improve the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients.
Samadi
Pershia
P
Centre de recherche en Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada.
Grégoire
Laurent
L
Rouillard
Claude
C
Bédard
Paul J
PJ
Di Paolo
Thérèse
T
Lévesque
Daniel
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D007980:Levodopa