Neuregulins, Neuroprotection and Parkinson's Disease

摘要

The main hypothesis being tested in this research project is that neuregulins, primarily focusing on glial growth factor-2 (GGF2), is neuroprotective and/or neurorestorative for the damaged dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. Other hypotheses to be tested are that GGF2 augments functional indices of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system and that one of the intracellular signaling mechanisms mediating the protective effects of neuregulins for dopamine neurons involves the PI3-kinase pathway. These studies are being conducted in normal rats, in a 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson s disease, in primary neuronal cultures of midbrain dopamine cells, and in a dopaminergic cell line. Overall, results from these studies may form the basis for the therapeutic application of neuregulins to the treatment of neurotoxin- induced neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.