Akop Seksenyan
Tanzania
Research Article
T-Lymphocyte Deficiency Exacerbates Behavioral Deficits in the 6-OHDA Unilateral Lesion Rat Model for Parkinson?s Disease
Author(s): Christopher J Wheeler, Akop Seksenyan, Yosef Koronyo, Altan Rentsendorj, Danielle Sarayba, Henry Wu, Ashley Gragg, Emily Siegel, Deborah Thomas, Andres Espinosa, Kerry Thompson, Keith Black, Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, Robert Pechnick and Dwain K IrvinChristopher J Wheeler, Akop Seksenyan, Yosef Koronyo, Altan Rentsendorj, Danielle Sarayba, Henry Wu, Ashley Gragg, Emily Siegel, Deborah Thomas, Andres Espinosa, Kerry Thompson, Keith Black, Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, Robert Pechnick and Dwain K Irvin
T-lymphocytes have been previously implicated in protecting dopaminergic neurons in the substantianigra from
induced cell death. However, the role of T-cells in neurodegenerative models such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) has
not been fully elucidated. To examine the role of T-lymphocytes on motor behavior in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-
OHDA) unilateral striatal partial lesion PD rat model, we assessed progression of hemi-parkinsonian lesions in the
substantia nigra, induced by 6-OHDA striatal injections, in athymic rats (RNU-/-, T-lymphocyte-deficient) as
compared to RNU-/+ rats (phenotypically normal). Motor skills were determined by the cylinder and D-amphetamine
sulfate-induced rotational behavioral tests. Cylinder behavioral test showed no significant difference between
unilaterally lesioned RNU-/- and RNU-/+ rats. However both un.. View More»
