Experimental animal models of Parkinson’s disease: A transition from assessing symptomatology to α-synuclein targeted disease modification

1. Exp Neurol. 2017 Dec;298(Pt B):172-179. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.07.020.
Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Experimental animal models of Parkinson’s disease: A transition from assessing
symptomatology to α-synuclein targeted disease modification.

Ko WKD(1), Bezard E(2).

Author information:
(1)Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
.
(2)Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom; Univ. de Bordeaux,
Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France;
CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux,
France.

With the understanding that α-synuclein plays a major role in the pathogenesis of
Parkinson’s disease (PD), novel animal models have been developed for conducting
preclinical research in screening novel disease modifying therapies. Advancements
in research techniques in α-synuclein targeted disease modification have utilised
methods such as viral mediated expression of human α-synuclein, as well as the
inoculation of pathogenic α-synuclein species from Lewy Bodies of PD patients,
for accurately modelling progressive self-propagating neurodegeneration. In
applying these cutting-edge research tools with sophisticated trial designs in
preclinical drug trials, a useful platform has emerged for developing candidate
agents with disease modifying actions, promising a greater chance of success for
clinical translation. In this article, we describe the transition of
well-established animal models of PD symptomatology to newly developed models of
PD pathogenesis, with specific focus on methods of viral-mediated and inoculation
of pathogenic α-synuclein, that aim to aid scientific translation of
neuroprotective strategies.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.07.020
PMID: 28764902 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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