The combination of oral L-DOPA/rimonabant for effective dyskinesia treatment and cytological preservation in a rat model of Parkinson's disease and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia

Behav Pharmacol. 2013 Dec;24(8):640-52. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000004.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world. Its treatment is limited so far to the management of parkinsonian symptoms with L-DOPA (LD). The long-term use of LD is limited by the development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias and dystonia. However, recent studies have suggested that pharmacological targeting of the endocannabinoid system may potentially provide a valuable therapeutic tool to suppress these motor alterations. In the present study, we have explored the behavioral (L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias severity) and cytological (substantia nigra compacta neurons and striatum neuropil preservation) effects of the oral coadministration of LD and rimonabant, a selective antagonist of CB1 receptors, in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Oral coadministration of LD (30 mg/kg) and rimonabant (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased abnormal involuntary movements and dystonia, possibly through the conservation of some functional tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive dopaminergic cells, which in turn translates into a well-preserved neuropil of a less denervated striatum. Our results provide anatomical evidence that long-term coadministration of LD with cannabinoid antagonist-based therapy may not only alleviate specific motor symptoms but also delay/arrest the degeneration of striatal and substantia nigra compacta cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Corpus Striatum / cytology
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / ultrastructure
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / administration & dosage*
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / pharmacology
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine Agents / administration & dosage
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Nerve Degeneration / drug therapy
  • Nerve Degeneration / pathology*
  • Neuropil / cytology
  • Oxidopamine
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / chemically induced
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Piperidines / administration & dosage
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrazoles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rimonabant
  • Substantia Nigra / cytology
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine
  • Oxidopamine
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Rimonabant