Pharmacological MRI (phMRI) monitoring of treatment in hemiparkinsonian rhesus monkeys.

摘要: There is a great need for the development of noninvasive, highly sensitive, and widely available imaging methods that can potentially be used to longitudinally monitor treatment Parkinson's disease (PD). Here we report monitoring GDNF-induced functional changes basal ganglia in hemiparkinsonian monkeys via pharmacological MRI measuring blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response direct dopamine agonist (apomorphine, APO). After testing BOLD responsiveness APO their normal state, two additional scans were taken with same dose stimulation after induced parkinsonism. Then all animals chronically treated GDNF 18 weeks by programmable pump catheter system. The was surgically implanted into right putamen connected flexible polyurethane tubing, phMRI at both 6 while they received 22.5 microg per day. In addition, behavioral monitored throughout entire study. primary finding this study APO-evoked activations DA denervated attenuated chronic intraputamenal infusion accompanied improvements parkinsonian features, movement speed, APO-induced rotation compared data collected before treatment. results suggest combination administration selective may useful neurorestorative therapies PD patients future.