On the role of P2X(7) receptors in dopamine nerve cell degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease: studies with the P2X(7) receptor antagonist A-438079

  • J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2010 Jun;117(6):681-7. doi: 10.1007/s00702-010-0400-0.
Daniel Marcellino  1 ,  Diana Suárez-Boomgaard ,  María Dolores Sánchez-Reina ,  José A Aguirre ,  Takashi Yoshitake ,  Shimako Yoshitake ,  Beth Hagman ,  Jan Kehr ,  Luigi F Agnati ,  Kjell Fuxe ,  Alicia Rivera
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]
PMID: 20387084 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-010-0400-0
Abstract

The role of the ATP-gated receptor, P2X(7), has been evaluated in the unilateral 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's Disease using the P2X(7) competitive antagonist A-438079. Nigral P2X(7) immunoreactivity was mainly located in microglia but also in astroglia. A-438079 partially but significantly prevented the 6-OHDA-induced depletion of striatal DA stores. However, this was not associated with a reduction of DA cell loss. Blockade of P2X(7) receptors may represent a novel protective strategy for striatal DA terminals in Parkinson's Disease and warrants further future investigation.

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