title: Presynaptic effects of levodopa and their possible role in dyskinesia.
abstract: Levodopa replacement therapy has long provided the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). We review how this dopamine (DA) precursor enhances dopaminergic transmission by providing a greater sphere of neurotransmitter influence as a result of the confluence of increased quantal size and decreased DA reuptake, as well as loading DA as a false transmitter into surviving serotonin neuron synaptic vesicles. We further review literature on how presynaptic dysregulation of DA release after l-dopa might trigger dyskinesias in PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eugene V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Mosharov
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borgkvist
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sulzer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Parkinson's Disease; dopamine; dyskinesia; levodopa; presynaptic; serotonin