Models of Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Movement disorders Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 729 - 737
• Main Authors: Orth, Michael, Tabrizi, Sarah J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2003; Wiley
• Subjects: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; cell culture; Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; disease models; Disease Models, Animal; DNA Mutational Analysis; Dopamine Agents - toxicity; Humans; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Models, Genetic; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Neurology; Oxidopamine - toxicity; Parkinson's disease; Parkinsonian Disorders - chemically induced; Parkinsonian Disorders - genetics; Risk Factors; Rotenone - toxicity; Substantia Nigra - drug effects; Synucleins; transgenic mice; Human; Cell culture; Nervous system diseases; Animal; Central nervous system disease; Parkinson disease; Degenerative disease; Models; Cerebral disorder; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0885-3185; 1531-8257
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.10447

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogenous disease likely to be caused by more than one specific aetiological factor. In rare familial cases of PD with similar clinical features to the idiopathic form of the disease, the underlying genetic cause has been identified. These PD‐associated genes have been manipulated to create animal and cell culture models of the disease that have helped to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of PD, particularly concerning causes of the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons at the molecular level. In addition, these models will aid the future development of rational therapeutic strategies. This study briefly reviews toxin‐induced models and the genetics of PD. It focuses on recently developed animal models of PD, as well as in vitro approaches to model the disease. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society