Behavioural and biochemical abnormalities in a mouse model for Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms, but is accompanied by non-motor symptoms that have recently gained prominence for their detrimental impact on PD patients’ lives. These non-motor symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, are prevalent and often predate motor symptoms. To further understand them in the developmental stages of PD, it is important to characterize these symptoms in relation to motor symptoms. Since studies on patients are limited, we used a transgenic mouse model that overexpressed a pathogenic mutation observed in PD patients, and observed its behaviour to assess some classic PD phenotypes. In addition to motor abilities, 2 and 4 months old LRRK2R1441G mice were tested in the elevated plus-maze for anxiety-like behaviour, and in the tail suspension test and forced swim test to assess depression-like behaviour. There were no statistical differences in anxiety and depression-like behaviour between the non-transgenic and transgenic mice. These results were concomitant with good motor performance in both mice groups, though, contrary to published literature, motor deficits were not found in older (6 months old) mice. We conclude that these mice may be more useful in studying the other areas of PD pathology such as neuropathology or gastrointestinal and olfactory disorders.