Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) affects ∼1% of people that are over 60 years old. It has long been known that this disease is caused by a severe reduction in striatal dopamine production. This effect is caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the loss of the associated projecting fibers in the striatum. These neuronal losses translate physiologically into muscular tremors, rigidity, akinesia, postural instability, cognitive impairment and are frequently associated with depression. Pathophysiological symptoms and neurological lesions similar to those found in PD can be reproduced in mammals by injection of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This PD model was used by Vila et al.1 Vila M et al. Bax ablation prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2001; 98: 2837-2842 Crossref PubMed Scopus (311) Google Scholar to study the role of the pro-apoptotic signal Bax in the MPTP-induced death of neurons in wild type and mutant Bax-deficient mice.
Published Version
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