Anders Björklund

TL;DR: It is shown that nigral dopamine neurons are selectively vulnerable to high levels of either wild-type or mutant α-synuclein, pointing to a key role for α- Synuclein in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

TL;DR: The results indicate that the four-site intrastriatal 6-OHDA lesion may be a relevant model of the neuropathology seen in parkinsonian patients in a manifest symptomatic stage of the disease and may be particularly useful experimentally since it leaves a significant portion of the nigrostriatal projection intact which can serve as a substrate for regeneration and functional recovery in response to growth promoting and neuroprotective agents.

TL;DR: Rats sustaining unilateral near‐complete 6‐hydroxydopamine lesions of the mesostriatal dopamine pathway received daily injections of 3,4 dihydroxyphenyl‐l‐alanine (L‐DOPA, 8 mg/kg plus 15mg/kg benserazide) for 3 weeks and gradually developed abnormal involuntary movements.

TL;DR: It is shown that dyskinesia induced by chronic L-DOPA treatment in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway is critically dependent on the integrity and function of the serotonergic system.