Imaging of the dopaminergic system with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and particularly of the dopamine transporter (DAT) located in the striatum, is a well accepted tool in clinical practice to confirm or exclude loss of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in patients suspected to suffer from Parkinson's disease (PD). SPECT techniques were developed successfully to image neurotransmitter systems, including the presynaptic DAT and postsynaptic dopamine D2/3 receptors, in rat and mouse models of PD. Here we review the results of preclinical SPECT studies of the dopaminergic system in rat and mouse models of PD. Initially, SPECT studies in animal models of PD were performed to validate that micro-SPECT is able to accurately assess parts of the dopaminergic system in small animals in-vivo. However, more recently, micro-SPECT DAT is increasingly used as a research tool to support the interpretation of human DAT SPECT studies in PD, including clinical trials examining the effects of potential neuroprotective drugs. Translational research with SPECT is an interesting development which may further increase our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of PD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1353-8020(13)70043-9 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea.
Articular cartilage has a limited regenerative capacity, resulting in poor spontaneous healing of damaged tissue. Despite various scientific efforts to enhance cartilage repair, no single method has yielded satisfactory results. With rising drug development costs, drug repositioning has emerged as a viable alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Psychiatry
December 2024
From the Clinical & Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
Dysfunction of dopamine systems has long been considered a hallmark of schizophrenia, and nearly all current first-line medication treatments block dopamine D receptors. However, approximately a quarter of patients will not adequately respond to these agents and are considered treatment-resistant. Whereas abnormally high striatal presynaptic dopamine synthesis capacity has been observed in people with schizophrenia, studies of treatment-resistant patients have not shown this pattern and have even found the opposite - i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCNS Drugs
December 2024
Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India.
Background And Objectives: Ecopipam is a selective antagonist of the dopamine D1 receptor, and its efficacy and safety have recently been explored in several clinical trials involving patients with Tourette syndrome (TS). The objectives of this systematic review were to determine the pooled estimate for efficacy [in terms of reduction in tic Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores] and safety of oral ecopipam in subjects with TS.
Methods: All clinical trials that explored the efficacy and/or safety of ecopipam in patients with TS were included to determine the pooled estimate for change in YGTSS, Clinical Global Impression (CGI)-TS, and the severity of comorbid attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD), and depressive symptoms, as well as the nature and frequency of adverse effects.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
December 2024
Evolutionary Genetics Department, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Rationale: The sexual behavior of the female rat is highly motivated, and the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system -involved in psychostimulants effects- has been implicated in its regulation. Female rats begin to express sexual behavior during adolescence, a period during which this system is not yet mature.
Objective: To examine the impact of cocaine on sexual motivation and behavior of adolescent and adult female rats, and to determine the dopamine receptors binding in mesocorticolimbic areas of these females.
Neurol Int
December 2024
Natural and Humanities Sciences Center (CCNH), Experimental Morphophysiology Laboratory, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo 09606-070, Brazil.
Background/objectives: Antipsychotic medicines are used to treat several psychological disorders and some symptoms caused by dementia and schizophrenia. Haloperidol (Hal) is a typical antipsychotic usually used to treat psychosis; however, its use causes motor or extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) such as catalepsy. Hal blocks the function of presynaptic D2 receptors on cholinergic interneurons, leading to the release of acetylcholine (ACh), which is hydrolyzed by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
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