A theoretical post-translational processing model of the proprotein form of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) likely produces three biologically active peptides. The three prospective peptides formed are 5, 11, and 17 amino acid peptides, entitled dopamine neuron stimulating peptide -5 (DNSP-5), -11 (DNSP-11), and -17 (DNSP-17), respectively. The DNSPs were hypothesized to increase dopaminergic neuron function because of their relationship to GDNF: a molecule with established neurotrophic actions on dopaminergic neurons. The DNSPs have the potential to provide a therapeutic molecule similar to GDNF, but with increased ease of delivery and improved bioavailability. Neurochemical effects of DNSPs were examined in the nigrostriatal pathway of normal Fischer 344 rats, and DNSP-11 was found to be the most effective in increasing dopamine neurochemical function. Striatal microdialysis, four weeks after a single intranigral administration of DNSP-11, showed significant increases in the baseline concentrations of dopamine, DOPAC, and HVA. In addition, both, potassium and d-amphetamine-evoked dopamine overflow were significantly increased. DNSP-11 was delivered intranigrally to aged Fischer 344 rats to examine DNSP-11’s ability to improve dopaminergic function in aged dopamine neurons. DNSP-11 affected striatal dopaminergic function 28 days after treatment by decreasing baseline concentrations of dopamine and evoked dopamine release. Investigation of DNSP-11 continued, using two models of neurotoxin-induced dopamine neuron loss that model cell loss associated with Parkinson’s disease. The neuroprotective properties of DNSP-11 were evaluated by delivering DNSP-11 prior to the neurotoxic insult. DNSP-11 treatment was unable to protect dopaminergic neurons, but significantly increased dopamine metabolism. In a model of severe dopamine neuron loss, DNSP-11 treatment significantly improved apomorphine-induced rotation behavior, indicative of alterations in the function of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Subsequent examination of dopamine content within the SN revealed significant increases in dopamine and DOPAC levels by DNSP-11. Taken together, DNSP-11 treatments modified dopamine neurochemistry in all investigated rodent models. The observed long-term alterations of dopamine neurochemistry by DNSP-11 and subsequent behavioral changes support a potential use for DNSP-11 as a therapeutic for dopaminergic cell loss. Increased dopaminergic function by DNSP-11 is evidence for the novel concept that peptides contained within the prodomain of trophic factors can have neurotrophic actions.

Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra. Currently, the treatments available for PD are symptomatic treatments that do not stop the progression of the disease. Trophic molecules, such as glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have been evaluated as potential therapeutic molecules that could stop the loss of neurons and potentially restore some of the neurons that have already been lost. However, these trophic molecules are large making them difficult to produce and delivery. Here we characterize three peptides (DNSP-5, DNSP-11, and DNSP-17) to determine it they are stable and offer protective effects similar to GNDF allowing them to be potential therapeutic molecules. The data presented here involves the evaluation of the molecular and cellular mechanism of DNSP-5, DNSP-11, and DNSP-17, which are derived from prosequence of GDNF. Initial studies were carried out to evaluate the physical characteristics of these three peptides to determine their viability as potential therapeutic molecules. The structure and stability of these peptides were evaluated. Based on the data it was determined that the three peptides do not interact in vitro, allowing for further individual evaluations of the peptides. It was also determined that the peptides were stable when stored at both -80°C and 37°C for one month, allowing them to both potentially be stored during treatment. Cell culture assays and proteomic profiling were utilized to determine binding partners and potential mechanisms through which DNSP-11 may be able to mediate apoptosis. It was determined that DNSP-11 was able to interact with a variety of binding partners that are involved in metabolism. These studies have aided in the understanding of neurotrophic factor prosequence function, but will also serve as a starting point for the development of novel trophic factors for PD treatment. Finally, the interaction between DNSP-11 and GAPDH was evaluated as a potential anti-apoptotic mechanism. GAPDH has previously shown to play a role in mediating apoptotic pathways. It was hypothesized that the observed interaction between DNSP-11 and GAPDH could mediate that role of GAPDH in apoptosis and afford DNSP-11 its observed anti-apoptotic effects. It was observed that while DNSP-11’s interaction with GAPDH may play a role in its anti-apoptotic effects, it does not appear to be the only mechanism involved. Based on this data, it is likely that the other metabolic binding partners play a role in DNSP-11’s anti-apoptotic mechanisms and therefore, these interactions should be further evaluated.

A major challenge in developing disease altering therapeutics for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been the delivery of compounds across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the central nervous system (CNS). While direct surgical infusion has been utilized to deliver compounds to the brain that don’t cross the BBB, issues of poor biodistribution in the CNS due in part to properties of the molecules being delivered and/or infusion device protocols have limited the widespread success of this invasive approach. To avoid the issues of surgically delivering compounds to the CNS, numerous studies have examined the use of intranasal administration as a non-invasive delivery method. The data presented in this dissertation examines intranasal administration of dopamine neuron stimulating peptide-11 (DNSP-11), a small, amidated peptide with neuroprotective and restorative properties, and its effects on the nigrostriatal system in animal models of PD. Here we demonstrate that severely lesioned 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) F344 rats repeatedly administered DNSP-11 intranasally exhibited a decrease in damphetamine- induced rotation, dopamine (DA) turnover, and an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase positive neuronal sparing. Additionally, tracer studies indicated rapid distributed throughout the CNS and CSF following a one-time bilateral intranasal dose of 125I-labeled DNSP-11. These results demonstrate that DNSP-11 can be delivered to the CNS intranasally, and maintains its neuroactive properties on the nigrostriatal system in a rat model of PD. In a dose escalation study of DNSP-11, we evaluated the efficacy of repeated intranasal administration in awake, vertically chaired trained, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) hemiparkinsonian rhesus macaques using an atomizer system over a 10-week period. Here we report that animals did not exhibit observable adverse effects at the DNSP-11 concentrations examined, bilateral increases in fine motor performance of the upper limbs, and changes in tissue levels of DA and its metabolites. Finally, tracer studies indicated signal present throughout the CNS and CSF following a one-time bilateral intranasal dose of 125I-labeled DNSP-11. These studies support the efficacy of the repeated intranasal administration of DNSP-11 in awake Rhesus macaques over 10-weeks, while also enhancing motor performance and striatal neurochemistry in a non-human primate model of PD.