Neurochemical pathways involved in the protective effects of nicotine and ethanol in preventing the development of Parkinson's disease: potential targets for the development of new therapeutic agents.
In this short review, neurochemical targets are identified where nicotine, and possibly ethanol, may interact to prevent the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. These are (a) the nicotinic acetycholine receptors present in the nigrostriatal area or on the surface of microglia, (b) monoamine oxidases and (c) inducible nitric oxide synthase. If such induced changes can be verified in clinical studies, this may help in the design of new therapeutic drugs which may be of relevance to diminish the incidence and perhaps the progression of the debilitating condition of Parkinson's disease.
Ward
Roberta J
RJ
Laboratoire de Biologie du Comportement, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1 Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. ward@bioc.ucl.ac.be
Lallemand
Frédéric
F
de Witte
Philippe
P
Dexter
David T
DT
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000431:Ethanol