title: The midbrain slice preparation. An in vitro model to select potential anti-parkinsonian drugs?
abstract: Most anti-parkinsonian drugs produce a dopamine-like effect on single dopaminergic neurons. Using electrophysiological recordings, this effect is observed as an inhibition of the spontaneous firing activity. The firing activity of dopaminergic cells throughout dopamine-mediated mechanisms is inhibited not only by dopamine direct agonists but also by substances that increase the release or synthesis, or block the uptake or reduce degradation of dopamine in the brain. Here we propose the electrophysiological approach on dopaminergic neurons in in vitro slice preparation as a preliminary tool for selecting new potential anti-parkinsonian agents, before they are tested in more complex animal models.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurology Laboratory, C.E.R.C., Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, Rome, Italy. e.guatteo@hsantalucia.it
authors.forename: Ezia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guatteo
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cucchiaroni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sebastianelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Nicola Biagio
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mercuri
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004298:Dopamine