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Evangelisti S, Boessenkool S, Pflanz CP, Basting R, Betts JF, Jenkinson M, Clare S, Muhammed K, LeHeron C, Armstrong R, Klein JC, Husain M, Nemeth AH, Hu MT, Douaud G. Subthalamic nucleus shows opposite functional connectivity pattern in Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad282. [PMID: 38075949 PMCID: PMC10699743 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's and Parkinson's disease are two movement disorders representing mainly opposite states of the basal ganglia inhibitory function. Despite being an integral part of the cortico-subcortico-cortical circuitry, the subthalamic nucleus function has been studied at the level of detail required to isolate its signal only through invasive studies in Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. Here, we tested whether the subthalamic nucleus exhibited opposite functional signatures in early Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. We included both movement disorders in the same whole-brain imaging study, and leveraged ultra-high-field 7T MRI to achieve the very fine resolution needed to investigate the smallest of the basal ganglia nuclei. Eleven of the 12 Huntington's disease carriers were recruited at a premanifest stage, while 16 of the 18 Parkinson's disease patients only exhibited unilateral motor symptoms (15 were at Stage I of Hoehn and Yahr off medication). Our group comparison interaction analyses, including 24 healthy controls, revealed a differential effect of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease on the functional connectivity at rest of the subthalamic nucleus within the sensorimotor network, i.e. an opposite effect compared with their respective age-matched healthy control groups. This differential impact in the subthalamic nucleus included an area precisely corresponding to the deep brain stimulation 'sweet spot'-the area with maximum overall efficacy-in Parkinson's disease. Importantly, the severity of deviation away from controls' resting-state values in the subthalamic nucleus was associated with the severity of motor and cognitive symptoms in both diseases, despite functional connectivity going in opposite directions in each disorder. We also observed an altered, opposite impact of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease on functional connectivity within the sensorimotor cortex, once again with relevant associations with clinical symptoms. The high resolution offered by the 7T scanner has thus made it possible to explore the complex interplay between the disease effects and their contribution on the subthalamic nucleus, and sensorimotor cortex. Taken altogether, these findings reveal for the first time non-invasively in humans a differential, clinically meaningful impact of the pathophysiological process of these two movement disorders on the overall sensorimotor functional connection of the subthalamic nucleus and sensorimotor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Evangelisti
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sirius Boessenkool
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Chris Patrick Pflanz
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Stroke Research Group, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
| | - Romina Basting
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG Oxford, UK
| | - Jill F Betts
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Mark Jenkinson
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Adelaide, 5005 Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stuart Clare
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Kinan Muhammed
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Campbell LeHeron
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, 8011 Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Richard Armstrong
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Johannes C Klein
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Masud Husain
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea H Nemeth
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Michele T Hu
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Gwenaëlle Douaud
- FMRIB Centre, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
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Cepeda C, Levine MS. Synaptic Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease: Lessons from Genetic Animal Models. Neuroscientist 2020; 28:20-40. [PMID: 33198566 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420972662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The understanding of the functional and structural changes occurring in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia in Huntington's disease (HD) has benefited considerably from the generation of genetic animal models. Most studies of synaptic alterations in HD models have focused on the striatum, but a more complete picture of synaptic dysfunction in the cortico-basal ganglia-cortical loop is emerging. Here, we provide a review and analysis of current developments in the study of synaptic alterations in these areas using HD rodent models. Recent evidence indicates that cortical maldevelopment plays a role in synaptic dysfunction along the corticostriatal pathway that may have its roots in the way mutant huntingtin interacts with synaptic proteins. Furthermore, a progressive disconnection in the corticostriatal pathway leads to abnormal function engaging extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors that contribute to eventual cell degeneration. In addition, biphasic increases followed by decreases in glutamate and dopamine release in the striatum could explain contrasting symptomatology in early and late stages of the disease. Changes in striatal output regions also are beginning to be examined. Finally, we highlight some therapeutic avenues aimed at rescuing synaptic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Cepeda
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Levine
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Polo-Castillo LE, Villavicencio M, Ramírez-Lugo L, Illescas-Huerta E, Moreno MG, Ruiz-Huerta L, Gutierrez R, Sotres-Bayon F, Caballero-Ruiz A. Reimplantable Microdrive for Long-Term Chronic Extracellular Recordings in Freely Moving Rats. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:128. [PMID: 30846926 PMCID: PMC6393392 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular recordings of electrical activity in freely moving rats are fundamental to understand brain function in health and disease. Such recordings require a small-size, lightweight device that includes movable electrodes (microdrive) to record either a new set of neurons every day or the same set of neurons over time. Ideally, microdrives should be easy to implant, allowing precise and smooth displacement of electrodes. The main caveat of most commercially available microdrives is their relatively short half-life span, in average ranging from weeks to a month. For most experiments, recording days-weeks is sufficient, but when the experiment depends on training animals for several months, it is crucial to develop new approaches. Here, we present a low-cost, reusable, and reimplantable device design as a solution to extend chronic recordings to long-term. This device is composed of a baseplate that is permanently fixed to the rodent's skull, as well as a reusable and replaceable microdrive that can be attached and detached from the baseplate, allowing its implantation and reimplantation. Reimplanting this microdrive is particularly convenient when no clear neuronal signal is present, or when the signal gradually decays across days. Our microdrive incorporates a mechanism for moving a 16 tungsten-wire bundle within a small (∼15 mm3) lightweight device (∼4 g). We present details of the design, manufacturing, and assembly processes. As a proof of concept, we show that recordings of the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) in a freely behaving rat are stable over a month. Additionally, during a lever-press task, we found, as expected, that NAc single-unit activity was associated with rewarded lever presses. Furthermore, we also show that NAc shell (NAcSh) responses evoked by freely licking for sucrose, consistent with our previously published results, were conserved from a first implant to a second microdrive reimplant in the same rat, notably showing reimplantation is possible without overtly affecting the functional responses of the area of interest. In sum, here we present a novel microdrive design (low-cost, small size, and light weight) that can be used for long-term chronic recordings and reimplanted in freely behaving rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leopoldo Emmanuel Polo-Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,National Laboratory for Additive and Digital Manufacturing, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Miguel Villavicencio
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Appetite, Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Leticia Ramírez-Lugo
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Illescas-Huerta
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario Gil Moreno
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Appetite, Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Leopoldo Ruiz-Huerta
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,National Laboratory for Additive and Digital Manufacturing, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ranier Gutierrez
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Appetite, Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Francisco Sotres-Bayon
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alberto Caballero-Ruiz
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,National Laboratory for Additive and Digital Manufacturing, Mexico City, Mexico
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Hartung H, Tan SKH, Temel Y, Sharp T. High-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus modulates neuronal activity in the lateral habenula nucleus. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 44:2698-2707. [PMID: 27623306 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
High-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is often used to treat movement disability in advanced Parkinson's disease, but some patients experience debilitating psychiatric effects including depression. Interestingly, HFS of the STN modulates 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) which are linked to depression, but the neural substrate of this effect is unknown. Here, we tested the effect of STN stimulation on neuronal activity in the lateral habenula nucleus (LHb), an important source of input to DRN 5-HT neurons and also a key controller of emotive behaviours. LHb neurons were monitored in anaesthetized rats using single-unit extracellular recording, and localization within the LHb was confirmed by juxtacellular labelling. HFS of the STN (130 Hz) evoked rapid changes in the firing rate of the majority of LHb neurons tested (38 of 68). Some LHb neurons (19/68) were activated by HFS, while others (19/68), distinguished by a higher basal firing rate, were inhibited. LHb neurons that project to the DRN were identified using antidromic activation and collision testing (n = 17 neurons). Some of these neurons (5/17) were also excited by HFS of the STN, and others (7/17) were inhibited although this was only a statistical trend. In summary, HFS of the STN modulated the firing of LHb neurons, including those projecting to the DRN. The data identify that the STN impacts on the LHb-DRN pathway. Moreover, this pathway may be part of the circuitry mediating the psychiatric effects of STN stimulation experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrike Hartung
- University Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Sonny K H Tan
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yasin Temel
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Trevor Sharp
- University Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK.
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Akopian G, Barry J, Cepeda C, Levine MS. Altered membrane properties and firing patterns of external globus pallidus neurons in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Neurosci Res 2016; 94:1400-1410. [PMID: 27618125 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD), striatal neuron properties are significantly altered. These alterations predict changes in striatal output regions. However, little is known about alterations in those regions. The present study examines changes in passive and active membrane properties of neurons in the external globus pallidus (GPe), the first relay station of the indirect pathway, in the R6/2 mouse model of juvenile HD at presymptomatic (1 month) and symptomatic (2 month) stages. In GPe, two principal types of neurons can be distinguished based on firing properties and the presence (type A) or absence (type B) of Ih currents. In symptomatic animals (2 month), cell membrane capacitance and input resistance of type A neurons were increased compared with controls. In addition, action potential afterhyperpolarization amplitude was reduced. Although the spontaneous firing rate of GPe neurons was not different between control and R6/2 mice, the number of spikes evoked by depolarizing current pulses was significantly reduced in symptomatic R6/2 animals. In addition, these changes were accompanied by altered firing patterns evidenced by increased interspike interval variation and increased number of bursts. Blockade of GABAA receptors facilitated bursting activity in R6/2 mice but not in control littermates. Thus, alterations in firing patterns could be caused by changes in intrinsic membrane conductances and modulated by synaptic inputs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garnik Akopian
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Joshua Barry
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael S Levine
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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Sharma M, Deogaonkar M. Deep brain stimulation in Huntington's disease: assessment of potential targets. J Clin Neurosci 2015; 22:812-7. [PMID: 25698541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder that has very few effective therapeutic interventions. Since the disease has a defined neural circuitry abnormality, neuromodulation could be an option. Case reports, original research, and animal model studies were selected from the databases of Medline and PubMed. All related studies published up to July 2014 were included in this review. The following search terms were used: "Deep brain stimulation," "DBS," "thalamotomy," "pallidal stimulation," and "Huntington's Disease," "HD," "chorea," or "hyperkinetic movement disorders." This review examines potential nodes in the HD circuitry that could be modulated using deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. With rapid evolution of imaging and ability to reach difficult targets in the brain with refined DBS technology, some phenotypes of HD could potentially be treated with DBS in the near future. Further clinical studies are warranted to validate the efficacy of neuromodulation and to determine the most optimal target for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Sharma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Neuromodulation, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, 480 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Milind Deogaonkar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Neuromodulation, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, 480 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Carreira JC, Jahanshahi A, Zeef D, Kocabicak E, Vlamings R, von Hörsten S, Temel Y. Transgenic Rat Models of Huntington's Disease. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 22:135-147. [PMID: 24013873 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2013_245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Several animal models for Huntington's disease (HD) have been created in order to investigate mechanisms of disease, and to evaluate the potency of novel therapies. Here, we describe the characteristics of the two transgenic rat models: transgenic rat model of HD (fragment model) and the Bacterial Artificial Chromosome HD model (full-length model). We discuss their genetic, behavioural, neuropathological and neurophysiological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Casaca Carreira
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Bissonnette S, Vaillancourt M, Hébert SS, Drolet G, Samadi P. Striatal pre-enkephalin overexpression improves Huntington's disease symptoms in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75099. [PMID: 24040390 PMCID: PMC3770591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The reduction of pre-enkephalin (pENK) mRNA expression might be an early sign of striatal neuronal dysfunction in Huntington’s disease (HD), due to mutated huntingtin protein. Indeed, striatopallidal (pENK-containing) neurodegeneration occurs at earlier stage of the disease, compare to the loss of striatonigral neurons. However, no data are available about the functional role of striatal pENK in HD. According to the neuroprotective properties of opioids that have been recognized recently, the objective of this study was to investigate whether striatal overexpression of pENK at early stage of HD can improve motor dysfunction, and/or reduce striatal neuronal loss in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD. To achieve this goal recombinant adeno-associated-virus (rAAV2)-containing green fluorescence protein (GFP)-pENK was injected bilaterally in the striatum of R6/2 mice at 5 weeks old to overexpress opioid peptide pENK. Striatal injection of rAAV2-GFP was used as a control. Different behavioral tests were carried out before and/or after striatal injections of rAAV2. The animals were euthanized at 10 weeks old. Our results demonstrate that striatal overexpression of pENK had beneficial effects on behavioral symptoms of HD in R6/2 by: delaying the onset of decline in muscular force; reduction of clasping; improvement of fast motor activity, short-term memory and recognition; as well as normalization of anxiety-like behavior. The improvement of behavioral dysfunction in R6/2 mice having received rAAV2-GFP-pENK associated with upregulation of striatal pENK mRNA; the increased level of enkephalin peptide in the striatum, globus pallidus and substantia nigra; as well as the slight increase in the number of striatal neurons compared with other groups of R6/2. Accordingly, we suggest that at early stage of HD upregulation of striatal enkephalin might play a key role at attenuating illness symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mylène Vaillancourt
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL, Québec, Canada
| | - Sébastien S. Hébert
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL, Québec, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et de neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Guy Drolet
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL, Québec, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et de neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Pershia Samadi
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL, Québec, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et de neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Mrzljak L, Munoz-Sanjuan I. Therapeutic Strategies for Huntington's Disease. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2013; 22:161-201. [PMID: 24277342 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2013_250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease, caused by expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene and characterized pathologically by the loss of pyramidal neurons in several cortical areas, of striatal medium spiny neurons, and of hypothalamic neurons. Clinically, a distinguishing feature of the disease is uncontrolled involuntary movements (chorea, dyskensias) accompanied by progressive cognitive, motor, and psychiatric impairment. This review focuses on the current state of therapeutic development for the treatment of HD, including the preclinical and clinical development of small molecules and molecular therapies.
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Lessons learned from the transgenic Huntington's disease rats. Neural Plast 2012; 2012:682712. [PMID: 22852099 PMCID: PMC3407652 DOI: 10.1155/2012/682712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal inherited disorder leading to selective neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Currently, there is no treatment to slow down or to stop the disease. There is also no therapy to effectively reduce the symptoms. In the investigation of novel therapies, different animal models of Huntington's disease, varying from insects to nonhuman primates, have been created and used. Few years ago, the first transgenic rat model of HD, carrying a truncated huntingtin cDNA fragment with 51 CAG repeats under control of the native rat huntingtin promoter, was introduced. We have been using this animal model in our research and review here our experience with the behavioural, neurophysiological, and histopathological phenotype of the transgenic Huntington's disease rats with relevant literature.
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