Presynaptic effects of levodopa and their possible role in dyskinesia.

Abstract

Levodopa replacement therapy has long provided the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). We review how this dopamine (DA) precursor enhances dopaminergic transmission by providing a greater sphere of neurotransmitter influence as a result of the confluence of increased quantal size and decreased DA reuptake, as well as loading DA as a false transmitter into surviving serotonin neuron synaptic vesicles. We further review literature on how presynaptic dysregulation of DA release after l-dopa might trigger dyskinesias in PD patients.

• Authors: Eugene V Mosharov, Anders Borgkvist, David Sulzer
• Journal: Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society (Mov Disord) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 45-53 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1531-8257 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25450307 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agents
• Levodopa
• Dopamine

Topics

• Animals
• Dopamine (metabolism)
• Dopamine Agents (adverse effects)
• Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced (etiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Levodopa (adverse effects)
• Neurons (cytology, drug effects)
• Parkinson Disease (drug therapy)
• Presynaptic Terminals (drug effects, metabolism)