Neurobiol Dis. 2009 Sep;35(3):348-51 doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.05.018. 2009 Jun 06.

The blood-brain barrier is intact after levodopa-induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian primates--evidence from in vivo neuroimaging studies

Astradsson A, Jenkins BG, Choi JK, Hallett PJ, Levesque MA, McDowell JS, Brownell AL, Spealman RD, Isacson O.

Abstract

It has been suggested, based on rodent studies, that levodopa (L-dopa) induced dyskinesia is associated with a disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have investigated BBB integrity with in vivo neuroimaging techniques in six 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) lesioned primates exhibiting L-dopa-induced dyskinesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed before and after injection of Gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) revealed an intact BBB in the basal ganglia showing that l-dopa-induced dyskinesia is not associated with a disrupted BBB in this model.

PMID: 19501164
PubMed Entry