 |
 |
please discontinue this newsletter > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 16:43:23 +0200 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Novel Neurotrophic Factor for Parkinson�sDisease > To: [log in to unmask] > > > > > A novel neurotrophic factor protects rat brain against a striatal neurotoxin > and improves locomotion when administered to the damaged brain, according to > a new study. > > Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is expressed in the > vertebrate striatum and is upregulated in cerebral ischemia. To test its > potential in PD, investigators injected various doses into the striatum of > rats either before or after unilateral lesioning with 6-OHDA, a common model > of PD, in which amphetamine-induced rotation is used to monitor damage to the > striatum. > > When MANF was injected 6 hours before lesioning, rotation was reduced > significantly compared to vehicle-treated rats when measured at 4 weeks > post-lesion, though not at 2 weeks. The dose-response curve was bell-shaped, > with 10 micrograms providing better response than either higher or lower > doses, a phenomenon also seen with other neurotrophic factors. > > MANF given 4 weeks after lesioning reduced the cumulative number of > amphetamine-induced rotations over time, and was superior to GDNF in this > measure. GDNF is a neurotrophic factor that has produced mixed results in > clinical trials in PD. The distribution volume for a single injection of MANF > was larger than that for GDNF. Both MANF and GDNF slowed the loss of TH+ > cells in the striatum compared to vehicle at 4 weeks after lesioning, though > neither altered the density of TH+ fibers. > > "Our results suggest that MANF reduces amphetamine-induced turning behavior > and protects dopaminergic neurons and striatal axons at least as well as > GDNF," the authors conclude. "Because MANF readily diffuses in the striatum > in rats, it may do the same in human brain and be beneficial for the > treatment of parkinsonian patients." > > Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor is neurorestorative in rat > model of Parkinson's disease > MJ Voutilainen, S Back, E Porsti, L Toppinen, L Lindgren, P Lindholm, J > Peranen, M Saama, RK Tuominen > J Neurosci 2009;29:9651-9659 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=PID23384::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:NF_BR_sync:082009