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Levodopa induces dyskinesias in normal squirrel monkeys
Author(s) -
Togasaki Daniel M.,
Tan Louis,
Protell Peter,
Di Monte Donato A.,
Quik Maryka,
Langston J. William
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.1099
Subject(s) - levodopa , dyskinesia , carbidopa , squirrel monkey , medicine , parkinson's disease , psychology , anesthesia , pharmacology , neuroscience , disease
This study assessed whether or not levodopa induces dyskinesias in normal (ie, unlesioned) squirrel monkeys. All six animals treated twice daily with levodopa (15 mg/kg with carbidopa by oral gavage) for two weeks developed choreoathetoid dyskinesias, whereas none of the vehicle‐treated animals displayed any abnormal movements. These dyskinesias did not merely reflect a generalized motor activation as locomotion was actually suppressed. The present data demonstrate that preexisting nigrostriatal damage is not necessary for the development of levodopa‐induced dyskinesias.