Friday 5th April 2019, 10:30am
Parkinson’s patients could be helped by fresh insights gained from studies of tiny tropical fish.
Research using zebrafish has revealed how key brain cells that are damaged in people with Parkinson’s disease can be regenerated.
The findings offer clues that could one day lead to treatments for the neurological condition, which causes movement problems and tremors.
Parkinson’s occurs when specialised nerve cells in the brain are destroyed. These cells are responsible for producing an important chemical called dopamine.
When these cells die, or become damaged, the loss of dopamine causes body movements to become impaired. Once these cells are lost from the human brain, they cannot be repaired or replaced.
In zebrafish, however, dopamine-producing nerve cells are constantly replaced by dedicated stem cells in the brain, the researchers found.
The team, led by the University of Edinburgh, found the immune system plays a key role in this process. In some regions of a zebrafish’s brain, the process does not work, however.
Researchers say understanding the immune signals that facilitate replacement of these nerve cells could hold vital clues to developing treatments for people.
The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, was funded by BBSRC and the Medical Research Council.
"We were excited to find that zebrafish have a much higher regenerative capacity for dopamine neurons than humans. Understanding the signals that underpin regeneration of these nerve cells could be important for identifying future treatments for Parkinson’s disease."
Dr Thomas Becker, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of EdinburghBBSRC Media Office
E: press.office@bbsrc.ukri.org
T: 01793 414694
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
