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High dose levodopa therapy is not toxic in multiple system atrophy: Experimental evidence
Author(s) -
Stefanova Nadia,
Köllensperger Martin,
Hainzer Monika,
Cenci Angela,
Poewe Werner,
Wenning Gregor Karl
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.21468
Subject(s) - atrophy , levodopa , medicine , parkinson's disease , disease
Levodopa is generally regarded the first choice therapy for parkinsonism associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA‐P). However, MSA‐P patients often show a poor or unsustained levodopa response which inflicts high dose therapy. This is generally attributed to progressive striatal degeneration with loss of dopamine receptors. Experimental evidence suggests that dopaminergic stimulation may accelerate the striatal disease process in MSA, possibly by pro‐oxidative mechanisms. Intact nigrostriatal dopamine release augments striatal lesion size in the unilateral nigral and striatal double lesion rat model of MSA‐P. Further, neuronal vulnerability to exogenous oxidative stress is increased in a transgenic MSA mouse model with oligodendroglial α‐synuclein inclusions. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether high dose levodopa delivery in the transgenic MSA model is associated with neurotoxicity exacerbated by the presence of oligodendroglial α‐synuclein inclusion pathology. Control and transgenic MSA mice underwent pulsatile treatment with either vehicle, low or high dose levodopa for a period of 1 month. Behavioral and neuropathological indices failed to show evidence for neurotoxic effects of high‐dose levodopa in this α‐synuclein transgenic MSA model. These findings support the idea that high dose levodopa therapy in MSA is not detrimental to the underlying neuropathological process. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society