L-DOPA reverses motor deficits associated with normal aging in mice.
We wished to determine whether L-DOPA, a common treatment for the motor deficits in Parkinson's disease, could also reverse the motor deficits that occur during aging. We assessed motor performance in young (2-3 months) and old (20-21 months) male C57BL/6 mice using the challenge beam and cylinder tests. Prior to testing, mice were treated with L-DOPA or vehicle. Following testing, striatal tissue was analyzed for phenotypic markers of dopamine neurons: dopamine, dopamine transporter, and tyrosine hydroxylase. Although the dopaminergic markers were unchanged with age or L-DOPA treatment, L-DOPA reversed the motor deficits in the old animals such that their motor coordination was that of a young mice. These findings suggest that some of the locomotor deficits that accompany normal aging are responsive to L-DOPA treatment and may be due to subtle alterations in dopaminergic signaling.
Department of Pharmacology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
Erika
E
Allen
Kirsten M
KM
Carlson
Michael J
MJ
Zigmond
Jane E
JE
Cavanaugh
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid