title: Therapeutic effects of Delta9-THC and modafinil in a marmoset Parkinson model.
abstract: Current therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) like l-dopa and dopamine (DA) agonists have declined efficacy after long term use. Therefore, research towards supplementary or alternative medication is needed. The implementation in PD can be expedited by application of compounds already used in the clinic. In this study the therapeutic effects of the psychoactive compounds Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) and modafinil were tested in the 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-marmoset model for PD. The anti-parkinson effects of Delta(9)-THC (4 mg/kg) and modafinil (100 mg/kg) in parkinsonian marmosets were assessed with two behavioral rating scales covering parkinsonian symptoms and involuntary movements and two test systems assessing the locomotor activity and hand-eye coordination. Delta(9)-THC improved activity and hand-eye coordination, but induced compound-related side-effects. Modafinil improved activity and observed parkinsonian symptoms but not hand-eye coordination. It can be concluded that both compounds have therapeutic values and could supplement existing therapies for PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Therapy, TNO Defence, Security and Safety, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. s.a.m.van.vliet@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Sanneke A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.forename: Raymond A P
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vanwersch
authors.forename: Marjan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jongsma
authors.forename: Berend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Ingrid H C H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Philippens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002144:Callithrix; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000077408:Modafinil; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D013759:Dronabinol; D000077408:Modafinil