Background

Currently, Parkinson’s disease (PD) has no cure. Today, over a million people suffer with this disease, most notably the fighting legend Muhammad Ali. PD progressively develops by the degeneration of dopaminergic neruons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the brain. This degeneration of the dopaminergic neruons decreases dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter for movement, cognition, and pleasure. Reachers are focusing their attention to find ways they can reverse the degeneration of these neurons with the use of treatments creating an increase dopamine levels. The only treatment currently is the use of L-DOPA (levodopa; L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). This chemical, a precursor to dopamine, has the ability to enter the blood brain barrier and manufacture dopamine making it a great treatment. However, over long periods of treatment, this chemical has been found to create adverse affects of hyperkinesia, an increase in muscular activity resulting in excessive abnormal movements and behaviors.

My Project

I am looking at a possible Parkinson’s co-treatment (L-DOPA + MAO-I) to induce a hyperkinetic state as long -term treatment would, and I am attempting to eliminate the adverse effects from long-term exposure with an inhibitor of NOSi. To reiterate, I am confirming that the co-treatment creates the abnormal behaviors of hyperkinesia and I am testing to see if the inhibitor NOSi will eliminate the effects and bring them back to a normal state. I am using the casper Zebrafish as my animal model. They have proven to affordable, efficient in breeding, as well easy to see due to there non-pigmented properties.

If you have questions, please feel free to email me.