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hi all some good news to brighten your weekend[s] janet > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Researchers find protein that may play role in Parkinson's > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >=20 > Copyright =A9 1997 Nando.net > Copyright =A9 1997 Reuter Information Service >=20 > WASHINGTON (April 10, 1997 5:25 p.m. EDT) - A protein called Nurr1 may > play a key role in Parkinson's disease and could help researchers find > new therapies, scientists said Thursday. >=20 > While an embryo develops, Nurr1 plays a role in forming the brain > cells that make dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Later in life it appears > to keep those dopamine cells active. >=20 > Parkinson's patients lack dopamine and gradually develop tremors and > motor difficulties. Drugs slow the process in some patients but do not > cure it. >=20 > The research, appearing in the journal Science Friday, suggests that a > defect in Nurr1 may be part of the problem and the protein may also be > a target for future drug development. >=20 > Nurr1 was discovered in 1992 but the new work by Thomas Perlmann of > the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Lars Olson of the > Karolinska Institute, both in Stockholm, sheds light on what it does. >=20 > The researchers developed mouse models that lacked one or both Nurr1 > genes. Mice who lacked the gene completely did not suckle and died a > day or two after birth. Cells in the mid-brain were poorly organized > and had never formed specialized neurons to make dopamine. >=20 > "That cell type is clearly missing," Perlmann said. >=20 > The mice with one copy of the gene did survive but they produced less > dopamine than normal mice. Although more research is needed, the > results so far suggest that the mice make less dopamine but do not > have fewer of those cells. >=20 > Scientists hope that by learning more about this protein they will be > able to develop better treatments. >=20 > http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/health/041097/health21_4466.html [log in to unmask]