Imbalanced Dopaminergic Transmission Mediated by Serotonergic Neurons in L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia

L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) are one of the main motor side effects of L-DOPA therapy in Parkinson's disease. The review will consider the biochemical evidence indicating that the serotonergic neurons are involved in the dopaminergic effects of L-DOPA in the brain. The consequences are an ectopic and aberrant release of dopamine that follows the serotonergic innervation of the brain. After mid- to long-term treatment with L-DOPA, the pattern of L-DOPA-induced dopamine release is modified. In several brain regions, its effect is dramatically reduced while, in the striatum, its effect is quite preserved. LIDs could appear when the dopaminergic effects of L-DOPA fall in brain areas such as the cortex, enhancing the subcortical impact of dopamine and promoting aberrant motor responses. The consideration of the serotonergic system in the core mechanism of action of L-DOPA opens an important reserve of possible strategies to limit LIDs

Noradrenaline and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and motor symptoms including bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor at rest. These symptoms are exhibited when striatal dopamine concentration has decreased by around 70%. In addition to motor deficits, PD is also characterized by the non-motor symptoms. However, depletion of DA alone in animal models has failed to simultaneously elicit both the motor and non-motor deficits of PD, possibly because the disease is a multi-system disorder that features a profound loss in other neurotransmitter systems. There is growing evidence that additional loss of noradrenaline (NA) neurons of the locus coeruleus, the principal source of NA in the brain, could be involved in the clinical expression of motor as well as in non-motor deficits. In the present review, we analyze the latest evidence for the implication of NA in the pathophysiology of PD obtained from animal models of parkinsonism and from parkinsonian patients. Recent studies have shown that NA depletion alone, or combined with DA depletion, results in motor as well as in non-motor dysfunctions. In addition, by using selective agonists and antagonists of noradrenaline alpha receptors we, and others, have shown that α2 receptors are implicated in the control of motor activity and that α2 receptor antagonists can improve PD motor symptoms as well as l-Dopa-induced dyskinesia. In this review we argue that the loss of NA neurons in PD has an impact on all PD symptoms and that the addition of NAergic agents to dopaminergic medication could be beneficial in the treatment of the disease

Editorial: Non-Dopaminergic Systems in Parkinson's Disease

The dopaminergic system has been the main focus for almost 70 years and dopaminergic-based strategies still remain the best symptomatic medication to improve quality of life of parkinsonian patients

Impairment of Serotonergic Transmission by the Antiparkinsonian Drug L-DOPA: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

The link between the anti-Parkinsonian drug L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and the serotonergic (5-HT) system has been long established and has received increased attention during the last decade. Most studies have focused on the fact that L-DOPA can be transformed into dopamine (DA) and released from 5-HT terminals, which is especially important for the management of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. In patients, treatment using L-DOPA also impacts 5-HT neurotransmission; however, few studies have investigated the mechanisms of this effect. The purpose of this review is to summarize the electrophysiological and neurochemical data concerning the effects of L-DOPA on 5-HT cell function. This review will argue that L-DOPA disrupts the link between the electrical activity of 5-HT neurons and 5-HT release as well as that between 5-HT release and extracellular 5-HT levels. These effects are caused by the actions of L-DOPA and DA in 5-HT neurons, which affect 5-HT neurotransmission from the biosynthesis of 5-HT to the impairment of the 5-HT transporter. The interaction between L-DOPA and 5-HT transmission is especially relevant in those Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients that suffer dyskinesia, comorbid anxiety or depression, since the efficacy of antidepressants or 5-HT compounds may be affected

Updating neuropathology and neuropharmacology of monoaminergic systems

PreprintNon peer reviewe

Pathophysiology of the serotonin system in the nervous system and beyond

Serotonin (5-HT) is an attractive neurotransmitter system, in terms of physiology, physiopathology, and medicines [...

Impairment of Serotonergic Transmission by the Antiparkinsonian Drug L-DOPA: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

The link between the anti-Parkinsonian drug L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and the serotonergic (5-HT) system has been long established and has received increased attention during the last decade. Most studies have focused on the fact that L-DOPA can be transformed into dopamine (DA) and released from 5-HT terminals, which is especially important for the management of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. In patients, treatment using L-DOPA also impacts 5-HT neurotransmission; however, few studies have investigated the mechanisms of this effect. The purpose of this review is to summarize the electrophysiological and neurochemical data concerning the effects of L-DOPA on 5-HT cell function. This review will argue that L-DOPA disrupts the link between the electrical activity of 5-HT neurons and 5-HT release as well as that between 5-HT release and extracellular 5-HT levels. These effects are caused by the actions of L-DOPA and DA in 5-HT neurons, which affect 5-HT neurotransmission from the biosynthesis of 5-HT to the impairment of the 5-HT transporter. The interaction between L-DOPA and 5-HT transmission is especially relevant in those Parkinson's disease (PD) patients that suffer dyskinesia, comorbid anxiety or depression, since the efficacy of antidepressants or 5-HT compounds may be affected.The project was funded by grants from the Government of the Basque Country (IT 747-13), the Spanish Government [SAF2016-77758-R (AEI/FEDER, UE)] and by the Fondation de France. PDD acknowledges the support given by the cooperation for science and technology (COST) action CM15120. PDD and AB acknowledge the support of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

El sistema endógeno de serotonina no participa en la abstinencia opiácea, aunque su inhibición por estimulación del receptor 5-HT1A incrementa la eficacia antidisfórica de la clonidina en ratas

El objetivo del estudio fue discernir el papel del sistema endógeno de serotonina en la abstinencia opiácea, tanto en su vertiente somática como emocional, así como su posible interacción con los efectos de la clonidina. Con tal fin, se empleó un protocolo basado en la lesión casi total de los principales centros serotoninérgicos del mesencéfalo, y también se bloqueó la actividad serotoninérgica mediante 8-hidroxi-dipropilaminotetralina (8-OHDPAT), agonista 5-HT1A. Los resultados indicaron que el sistema serotoninérgico no se encuentra involucrado en el síndrome somático de abstinencia y que la clonidina mantuvo su eficacia en el síndrome somático tras la depleción de serotonina. Los resultados también mostraron que el sistema de serotonina tampoco se encuentra involucrado en el síndrome emocional en la rata, evaluado mediante la aversión condicionada tras naloxona. Sin embargo, la eficacia antiaversiva de la clonidina se vio incrementada casi 10 veces tras la depleción casi completa de serotonina cerebral. Además, la inhibición farmacológica del sistema serotonérgico con 8-OHDPAT indujo efectos similares a la depleción serotoninérgica respecto a la eficacia antiaversiva de la clonidina. Por tanto, el uso combinado de compuestos agonistas del receptor 5- HT1A y clonidina podría ser eficaz para el tratamiento del síndrome de abstinencia opiáceo.The aim of the study was to discern the role of the endogenous serotonin system in opiate withdrawal, in both somatic and emotional aspects, along with its possible interaction with clonidine effects. To this end, a protocol based on near complete lesion of main serotonergic brain centers was carried out, and serotonin neurotransmission was also blocked by 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetraline (8-OHDPAT), 5- HT1A receptor agonist. The findings revealed that the serotonin system is not involved in somatic abstinence, and clonidine efficacy was not affected after serotonin depletion. The findings also revealed that the serotonin system is not involved in the emotional aspect of opiate abstinence, as measured through conditioned place aversion in rats. However, antiaversive clonidine efficacy was enhanced near 10 times following serotonin depletion. Moreover, 8-OHDPAT treatment induced similar effects on antiaversive clonidine efficacy to those found after serotonin depletion. Hence, the combined use of 5-HT1A receptor agonists and clonidine could be of value for treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome

Neurobiological and pharmacological perspectives of D3 receptors in Parkinson's disease

The discovery of the D3 receptor (D3R) subtypes of dopamine (DA) has generated an understandable increase in interest in the field of neurological diseases, especially Parkinson’s disease (PD). Indeed, although DA replacement therapy with l-DOPA has provided an effective treatment for patients with PD, it is responsible for invalidating abnormal involuntary movements, known as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, which constitutes a serious limitation of the use of this therapy. Of particular interest is the finding that chronic l-DOPA treatment can trigger the expression of D1R–D3R heteromeric interactions in the dorsal striatum. The D3R is expressed in various tissues of the central nervous system, including the striatum. Compelling research has focused on striatal D3Rs in the context of PD and motor side effects, including dyskinesia, occurring with DA replacement therapy. Therefore, this review will briefly describe the basal ganglia (BG) and the DA transmission within these brain regions, before going into more detail with regard to the role of D3Rs in PD and their participation in the current treatments. Numerous studies have also highlighted specific interactions between D1Rs and D3Rs that could promote dyskinesia. Finally, this review will also address the possibility that D3Rs located outside of the BG may mediate some of the effects of DA replacement therapy