Author(s): Yu Cui, Yutong Liang, Yanshuang Liu and Bo Zhang
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra and the formation of intracytoplasmic inclusion structures or Lewy Bodies (LB’s). However, the etiology and pathogenesis of PD remain unclear. Animal models are essential to study the pathogenesis of PD and identify novel therapeutic targets for its treatment. The first PD model developed was the reserpine model, which was followed by the 6-hydroxydopamine, MPTP, rotenone, and gene models. Several animal models have been used to elucidate different aspects of the molecular mechanisms of DA neuron death and potential therapeutic drugs. The specific modeling mechanisms and applications of each model are therefore different. In this paper, we review the modeling mechanisms and applications of PD animal models in recent years.
