Intranigral transplantation of fetal substantia nigra allograft in the hemiparkinsonian rhesus monkey

Philip A. Starr, Thomas Wichmann, Craig Van Horne, Roy A.E. Bakay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Current clinical protocols for fetal cell transplantation for Parkinson's disease (PD) have focused on restoring dopamine in the striatum. However, there are now a number of human transplant recipients who have had robust innervation of the striatum by dopaminergic grafts (documented by positron emission tomography or by autopsy), but only a partial improvement in parkinsonian motor signs. Thus, there is a need for improved transplant strategies. In animal models of PD, there is recent evidence that restoring dopamine in the substantia nigra, instead of or in addition to the striatum, may be important to correct abnormal motor behavior. This pilot study examined the morphological features and behavioral effects of fetal dopaminergic neuronal allografts placed into the substantia nigra of three 1- methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPFP)-treated hemiparkinsonian rhesus monkeys. We show that grafts can survive in host substantia nigra. Characteristics of the graft-host interface were variable. In one animal, reinnervation of host substantia nigra was observed, and this animal showed behavioral improvement in a reach-and-retrieval task.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-45
Number of pages9
JournalCell Transplantation
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Fetal cell transplantation
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Rhesus monkey
  • Substantia nigra

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Transplantation

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