A tale on animal models of Parkinson’s disease.

1. Mov Disord. 2011 May;26(6):993-1002. doi: 10.1002/mds.23696.

A tale on animal models of Parkinson’s disease.

Bezard E(1), Przedborski S.

Author information:
(1)Insitute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Université Victor Ségalen-Bordeaux II,
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Bordeaux, France.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder whose cardinal manifestations
are due primarily to a profound deficit in brain dopamine. Since the 1980s,
several therapeutic strategies have been discovered to treat the symptoms of this
neurological disorder, but as of yet, none halts or retards the neurodegenerative
process. In an attempt to shed light on the neurobiology of Parkinson’s disease,
a number of experimental models have been developed, especially during the last
25 years. They come essentially in 3 flavors: pharmacological (eg, reserpine),
toxic (eg, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine), and genetic (eg,
transgenic synuclein mice). These models can also be recast as etiologic,
pathogenic, and symptomatic/pathophysiologic, as each may contribute to our
understanding of the cause, the mechanisms, and the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease. In this review, we will discuss the question of Parkinson’s disease
models, starting from the period when this journal was born to today. During this
journey of 25 years, we will discuss both the significant contributions of the
Parkinson’s disease models and hurdles that remain to be overcome to one day cure
this neurological disease.

Copyright © 2011 Movement Disorder Society.

DOI: 10.1002/mds.23696
PMID: 21626544 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Know more about