Nonmotor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Revealed in an Animal Model with Reduced Monoamine Storage Capacity

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1495-09.2009
• Publication Date: 2009-06-24T21:28:59Z
• Authors: T. N. Taylor; W. M. Caudle; K. R. Shepherd; A. Noorian; C. R. Jackson; P. M. Iuvone; D. Weinshenker; J. G. Greene; G. W. Miller
• Keywords: Monoaminergic; Resting tremor

Parkinson9s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta, culminating severe motor symptoms, including resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. In addition to deficits, there are variety nonmotor symptoms associated with PD. These generally precede onset sometimes years, include anosmia, problems gastrointestinal motility, sleep disturbances, sympathetic denervation, anxiety, depression. Previously, we have shown mice 95% genetic reduction vesicular monoamine transporter expression (VMAT2-deficient, VMAT2 LO) display striatal dopamine, l-DOPA-responsive α-synuclein accumulation, nigral dopaminergic cell loss. We hypothesized since these animals exhibit deficits other systems (norepinephrine serotonin), which known regulate some behaviors, VMAT2-deficient may Here report demonstrate olfactory discrimination, delayed gastric emptying, altered latency, anxiety-like behavior, age-dependent depressive behavior. results suggest be useful model Furthermore, dysfunction contribute many PD, interventions aimed at restoring function beneficial treating disease.