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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
Striatal preprotachykinin gene expression reflects parkinsonian signs
Timothy V Wade1, Jay S Schneider
1Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust St., Rm. 521 Jefferson Alumni Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Abstract:
Striatal preprotachykinin (PPT) gene expression was measured in MPTP-treated cats when symptomatic and during various stages of recovery from parkinsonism using in situ hybridization histochemistry. Animals expressing severe (1 week post-MPTP) or moderate (3 weeks post-MPTP) parkinsonian sensorimotor deficits had significantly reduced striatal PPT mRNA expression. In contrast, fully recovered animals (6 weeks post-MPTP) had striatal PPT mRNA levels that were not significantly different from normal. Thus, PPT gene expression in the striatum appears to reflect presence or absence of sensorimotor deficits in MPTP-treated cats.
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