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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 4, 2021
Imaging SERT Availability in a Rat Model of L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia
Michael Walker1, Laura Kuebler1, Chris Marc Goehring1
1Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard-Karls University of Tuebingen, Röntgenweg 13, Tuebingen, Germany.
Purpose:
The development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) is one of the most severe side effects of chronic L-DOPA treatment in Parkinson's disease patients. [11C]DASB positron emission tomography (PET) provides a prominent tool to visualize and quantify serotonin transporter (SERT) pathology in vivo in patients and in animal models. To evaluate the effect of chronic L-DOPA treatment on SERT availability in an animal model of LID, we performed a longitudinal PET study.
Procedures:
Rats received a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion, and striatal and extrastriatal SERT expression levels were studied with [11C]DASB, a marker of SERT availability, before and after daily treatment with L-DOPA. Dyskinesias were evaluated at different time points over a period of 21 days.
Results:
[11C]DASB binding was found to be decreased after 6-OHDA lesions in the striatum, cortex, and hippocampus 5 weeks after 6-OHDA injection in the lesioned hemisphere of the rat brain. Chronic L-DOPA priming resulted in a relative preservation of SERT availability in the lesioned and healthy hemisphere compared to baseline measurements.
Conclusions:
Our longitudinal PET data support a preservation of SERT availability after the induction of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, which is in line with previous reports in dyskinetic PD patients.
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