How asymmetries in motor behavior become established normally or atypically in mammals remains unclear. An established model for motor asymmetry that is conserved across mammals can be obtained by experimentally inducing asymmetric striatal dopamine activity. However, the factors that can cause motor asymmetries in the absence of experimental manipulations to the brain remain unknown. Here, we ...

Parkinson's disease is characterized by motor deficits caused by loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Neurotrophic factors and cell transplantation have partially restored function in models of Parkinson's disease, but have had limited effects in humans. Here we show that intracerebroventricular administration of platelet-derived growth factor-BB can offer an alternative strategy to restore f...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered the second most frequent and one of the most severe neurodegenerative diseases, with dysfunctions of the motor system and with nonmotor symptoms such as depression and dementia. Compensation for the progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons during PD using current pharmacological treatment strategies is limited and remains challenging. Pluripotent stem...

The modulation of motor behavior by protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways in nigrostriatal neurons was examined by using a genetic intervention approach. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vectors that encode a catalytic domain of rat PKCbetaII (PkcDelta) were developed. PkcDelta exhibited a constitutively active protein kinase activity with a substrate specificity similar to that of rat b...

In an attempt to define clinically relevant models of akinesia and dyskinesia in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats, we have examined the effects of drugs with high (L-DOPA) vs. low (bromocriptine) dyskinesiogenic potential in Parkinson's disease on three types of motor performance, namely: (i) abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) (ii) rotational behaviour, and (iii) spontaneous forelimb...

Cultured human catecholaminergic and non-catecholaminergic donor cells were used in neural transplantation experiments in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Using two different human catecholaminergic neuroblastoma cell lines, one control non-catecholaminergic neuroblastoma cell line, and one sham control (tissue culture medium), transplants were made into the striatum using a modified Ungerst...

In an attempt to de®ne clinically relevant models of akinesia and dyskinesia in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats, we have examined the effects of drugs with high (L-DOPA) vs. low (bromocriptine) dyskinesiogenic potential in Parkinson's disease on three types of motor performance, namely: (i) abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) (ii) rotational behaviour, and (iii) spontaneous forelimb ...

The significance of the seismic rotational components have been overlooked in the seismic evaluation of structural behavior. As researchers have measured seismic components more accurately using sensitive rotational velocity sensor, it was observed that the magnitude of rotational components is considerable and could not be neglected. Hence, some parts of seismic damage or failure of structures...

The mechanisms by which adrenal medulla grafts influence the function of host brains in animal models of Parkinson's disease are unclear. To explore this issue, fragments of adrenal medulla or sciatic nerve were transplanted into the lateral ventricle of bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX) or sham-ADX rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. Additional control grou...