An exploratory evaluation of tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition in planaria as a model for parkinsonism.

Abstract

Planaria are the simplest organisms with bilateral symmetry and a central nervous system (CNS) with cephalization; therefore, they could be useful as model organisms to investigate mechanistic aspects of parkinsonism and to screen potential therapeutic agents. Taking advantage of the organism's anti-tropism towards light, we measured a significantly reduced locomotor velocity in planaria after exposure to 3-iodo-L-tyrosine, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase that is an enzyme catalyzing the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of catecholamines. A simple semi-automatic assay using videotaped experiments and subsequent evaluation by tracking software was also implemented to increase throughput. The dopaminergic regulation of locomotor velocity was confirmed by bromocriptine, a drug whose mechanisms of action to treat Parkinson's disease is believed to be through the stimulation of nerves that control movement.

• Authors: David Prokai, Thinh Nguyen, Kurt Kamrowski, Ashwin Chandra, Tatjana Talamantes, Lewis R Baxter, Laszlo Prokai
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 14 Issue 12 Pg. 23289-96 (Nov 26 2013) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 24287905 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 3-iodotyrosine
• Receptors, Dopamine
• Bromocriptine
• Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
• Monoiodotyrosine

Topics

• Animals
• Bromocriptine (chemistry, metabolism)
• Humans
• Light
• Locomotion (drug effects, radiation effects)
• Models, Animal
• Monoiodotyrosine (chemistry, metabolism)
• Parkinson Disease (enzymology, metabolism, pathology)
• Planarians (enzymology)
• Protein Binding
• Receptors, Dopamine (metabolism)
• Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)