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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 14, 2021
Glutamate release inhibition ineffective in levodopa-induced motor complications
William Bara-Jimenez1, Tzvetelina D Dimitrova, Abdullah Sherzai
1Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. baraw@ninds.nih.gov
Abstract:
Reported benefits of various glutamatergic receptor antagonists in Parkinson's disease (PD) prompted an evaluation of the antidyskinetic effect of a putative glutamate release inhibitor in 15 moderately advanced patients. In a 3-week, double-blind, proof-of-concept study, riluzole (200 mg/day) failed to alter parkinsonian or levodopa-induced motor complication severity. Opposing effects of a generalized inhibition of glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission may limit the usefulness of this approach to treat PD.
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