The results of a series of ab initio (3-21G) and semiempirical (PM3) molecular orbital (MO) calculations on neutral, zwitterionic and cationic forms of dopamine [1,2-benzenediol-4(2-aminoethyl)] are reported. In particular, optimised geometries, relative stabilities, dipole moments and electron charge distributions for the relevant conformational states of the studied molecules are presented an...

  Objective(s): Neuroinflammation in Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with glial cells activation and production of different inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic administration of 8-OH-DPAT on 6-OHDA-induced catalepsy and levels of inflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).   Materials and Methods: Catalepsy was induced by un...

Histoflnorometric techniques have confirmed that topical ocular application of 6-hydroxydopamine, a norepinephrine congener, causes a selective and reversible destruction of syynpathetic nerve terminals in the anterior segment. An investigation of the effects of "chemical sympatheclomy" on the pupil, intraocular pressure, and facility of outflow showed: the pupil underwent a sequence of changes...

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible Anti-Parkinson’s activity of aqueous extract of hooks with stem of Uncaria rhynchophylla which is showing monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibition and anti-oxidant activity. On zero day wistar rats were treated with 6-hydroxy dopamine (2μg/μl) intra nigrally. After 48 hrs of induction, aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (200 mg/kg/day,...

Dopamine D1 ligands have been classified and ordered according to efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In the present experiments, dopamine D1 ligands reported to differ in in vitro efficacy were evaluated for efficacy-related effects on eye blinking in squirrel monkeys. Additional comparisons were made with the effects of D2 receptor agonists and indirect dopamine agonists. The resul...

Receptor-specific compounds were applied by retrograde microdialysis to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the rat brain. The effects of intrategmental infusions on extracellular dopamine in the ipsilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) were recorded with a second microdialysis probe. Intrategmental infusion of tetradotoxin (1 microM), muscimol (20 microM) or baclofen (50 microM) decreased extracell...

The progressive degeneration of the dopamine neurons of the pars compacta of substantia nigra and the consequent loss of the dopamine innervation of the striatum leads to the impairment of motor behavior in Parkinson's disease. Accordingly, an efficient therapy of the disease should protect and regenerate the dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra and the dopamine innervation of the striatum....

The identity and functional potential of dopamine neurons derived in vitro from embryonic stem cells are critical for the development of a stem cell-based replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease. Using a parthenogenetic primate embryonic stem cell line, we have generated dopamine neurons that display persistent expression of midbrain regional and cell-specific transcription factors, which e...