title: Striatal transplantation in a rodent model of multiple system atrophy: effects on L-Dopa response.
abstract: Progressive degeneration of striatal projection neurons is thought to account for the loss of L-Dopa response observed in the majority of patients with the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P). Here we have investigated the effects of E14 embryonic striatal allografts on dopaminergic responsiveness in the unilateral double-lesion rat model of MSA-P by using tests of complex motor behavior. Both sham and graft animals showed an increase in apomorphine-induced rotations as well as an improvement in cylinder test performance following surgical intervention. In contrast, L-Dopa responsiveness of stepping behavior was improved only in grafted animals. The restoration of apomorphine-induced rotation correlated with the P-zone volume of grafts. Our findings indicate that transplantation of embryonic striatal grafts might, at least to some extent, restore responsiveness to L-Dopa in tasks of complex motor behavior. Therefore, striatal transplantation should be further defined preclinically as a possible therapeutic option for patients with MSA-P and a failing L-Dopa response.
authors.affiliation: Section for Clinical Neurobiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köllensperger
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stefanova
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pallua
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Puschban
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dechant
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hainzer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikkhah
authors.forename: Gregor K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wenning
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D001058:Apomorphine