title: Restorative effects of uridine plus docosahexaenoic acid in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Administering uridine-5'-monophosphate (UMP) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increases synaptic membranes (as characterized by pre- and post-synaptic proteins) and dendritic spines in rodents. We examined their effects on rotational behavior and dopaminergic markers in rats with partial unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced striatal lesions. Rats receiving UMP, DHA, both, or neither, daily, and intrastriatal 6-OHDA 3 days after treatment onset, were tested for d-amphetamine-induced rotational behavior and dopaminergic markers after 24 and 28 days, respectively. UMP/DHA treatment reduced ipsilateral rotations by 57% and significantly elevated striatal dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, TH protein and synapsin-1 on the lesioned side. Hence, giving uridine and DHA may partially restore dopaminergic neurotransmission in this model of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cansev
authors.forename: Ismail H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ulus
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wurtman