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L ‐Dihydroxyphenylalanine and complex I deficiency in Parkinson's disease brain
Author(s) -
Cooper J. M.,
Daniel S. E.,
Marsden C. D.,
Schapira A. H. V.
Publication year - 1995
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.870100311
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , parkinson's disease , striatum , dopaminergic , context (archaeology) , nigrostriatal pathway , dopamine , neuroscience , dihydroxyphenylalanine , degenerative disease , population , disease , medicine , central nervous system disease , biology , paleontology , environmental health
Abstract There is evidence for a 37% deficiency of complex I activity in Parkinson's disease (PD), which appears to be specific for PD amongst parkinsonian syndromes and selective for the substantia nigra within the central nervous system. Rat studies have shown that, in the context of a normal nigrostriatal dopaminergic cell population, L ‐dihydroxyphenylalanine ( L ‐dopa) causes a reversible 25% defect of complex I activity in nigral and striatal tissue. Analysis of striatal tissue from PD patients after prolonged exposure to highdose L ‐dopa does not show such a defect. Results of these and other studies suggest that L ‐dopa therapy does not cause complex I deficiency in PD striatum. However, it cannot be excluded that, in the particular environment of the PD substantia nigra, L ‐dopa may enhance a preexisting complex I defect.