AUTHOR=Raval Nakul Ravi , Gudmundsen Frederik , Juhl Morten , Andersen Ida Vang , Speth Nikolaj , Videbæk Annesofie , Petersen Ida Nymann , Mikkelsen Jens D. , Fisher Patrick MacDonald , Herth Matthias Manfred , Plavén-Sigray Pontus , Knudsen Gitte Moos , Palner Mikael TITLE=Synaptic Density and Neuronal Metabolic Function Measured by Positron Emission Tomography in the Unilateral 6-OHDA Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease JOURNAL=Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience VOLUME=13 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/synaptic-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnsyn.2021.715811 DOI=10.3389/fnsyn.2021.715811 ISSN=1663-3563 ABSTRACT=
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is caused by progressive neurodegeneration and characterised by motor dysfunction. Neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons also causes aberrations within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit, which has been hypothesised to lead to non-motor symptoms such as depression. Individuals with PD have both lower synaptic density and changes in neuronal metabolic function in the basal ganglia, as measured using [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG positron emission tomography (PET), respectively. However, the two radioligands have not been directly compared in the same PD subject or in neurodegeneration animal models. Here, we investigate [11C]UCB-J binding and [18F]FDG uptake in the CSTC circuit following a unilateral dopaminergic lesion in rats and compare it to sham lesioned rats. Rats received either a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or saline in the medial forebrain bundle and rostral substantia nigra (