The molecular mechanism responsible for degenerative process in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unknown. One major advance in this field has been the discovery of several genes associated to familial PD, including alpha synuclein, parkin, LRRK2, etc., thereby providing important insight toward basic research approaches. There is an consensus in neurodegenerative research that mitochondria dysfunction, protein degradation dysfunction, aggregation of alpha synuclein to neurotoxic oligomers, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and neuroinflammation are involved in degeneration of the neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons that are lost in the disease. An update of the mechanisms relating to neurotoxins that are used to produce preclinical models of Parkinson´s disease is presented. 6-Hydroxydopamine, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, and rotenone have been the most wisely used neurotoxins to delve into mechanisms involved in the loss of dopaminergic neurons containing neuromelanin. Neurotoxins generated from dopamine oxidation during neuromelanin formation are likewise reviewed, as this pathway replicates neurotoxin-induced cellular oxidative stress, inactivation of key proteins related to mitochondria and protein degradation dysfunction, and formation of neurotoxic aggregates of alpha synuclein. This survey of neurotoxin modeling—highlighting newer technologies and implicating a variety of processes and pathways related to mechanisms attending PD—is focused on research studies from 2012 to 2014.

In the 1950s, the discovery of anti-nerve growth factor, an immunotoxin stunting sympathetic neural development, signaled the advent of neurotoxins as research modalities. Other selective neurotoxins were discovered in rapid succession. In the 1960s, 6-hydroxydopamine and 6-hydroxydopa were shown to destroy noradrenergic and dopaminergic nerves. Excitotoxins (glutamate, aspartate, and analogs) were discovered in the 1970s. DSP-4 [N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine] proved to be selective for noradrenergic destruction, while 5,6-and 5, 7-dihydroxytryptamines were relatively selective for serotonin neurons. Additional neurotoxins were discovered, but it was MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) that predominated neurotoxicity research in the 1980s. Eventually, Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), discovered as a "poisonous" principle in the late 1800s, resurfaced in purified and standardized forms as a clinically useful drug. Neurotoxins represent chemical tools, useful not only for discerning neuronal mechanisms and animal modeling of neurological disorders, but also for their use in medicine and potential as treatments for medical disorders. This unit reviews the early discovery of neurotoxins, describes categories of neurotoxins, and finally characterizes their usefulness - first as research tools, and eventually as clinical therapeutic agents.

Les phénomènes d’ischémie-reperfusion sont rencontrés dans plusieurs situations physiopathologiques. Le seul traitement de l’ischémie repose sur une restauration précoce du flux sanguin. Paradoxalement, la reperfusion génère des lésions supplémentaires, appelées « lésions de reperfusion », dont la mitochondrie est un acteur majeur via l’ouverture du pore de transition de perméabilité mitochondrial (mPTP). L’ouverture du mPTP est principalement modulée par la cyclophiline D (CypD), une protéine de la matrice mitochondriale, dont l’inhibition pharmacologique par la cyclosporine A (CsA) permet de limiter l’ouverture du pore. Cette inhibition, obtenue in vitro et in vivo, permet de réduire les lésions de reperfusion. Néanmoins, de récents essais cliniques n’ont pas permis de confirmer ce bénéfice dans le cadre de l’infarctus du myocarde, soulignant la nécessité de développer de nouveaux inhibiteurs du mPTP. Dans ce travail, nous avons étudié l’effet de nouveaux ligands de la CypD sur l’ouverture du mPTP. Ces petites molécules innovantes, de structure radicalement différente de la CsA inhibent l’ouverture du mPTP de mitochondries isolées et le dérivé le plus actif, le C31, permet une inhibition plus efficace du mPTP que la CsA. Le C31 inhibe également le mPTP au niveau cellulaire, dans des hépatocytes primaires et dans des cardiomyocytes isolés. In vivo, le C31 atteint les mitochondries hépatiques et protège le foie dans un modèle d’ischémie-reperfusion hépatique. Cependant, la stabilité métabolique du C31 ne lui permet pas d’atteindre le cœur. La poursuite du développement de ces inhibiteurs pourrait aboutir à de nouveaux candidats pour protéger les organes des lésions de reperfusion. / Ischemia-reperfusion can occur in various pathophysiological situations such as myocardial infarction or organ transplantation. The only available treatment of ischemia relies on a timely reperfusion which paradoxically causes additional damage, so-called « reperfusion injury ». Mitochondria play a central role in this phenomenon through the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) which extends cell death. mPTP opening is modulated by the matrix protein cyclophilin D (CypD). CypD inhibition by cyclosporin A (CsA), the most described CypD inhibitor, limits reperfusion injury in vivo. Nevertheless, recent clinical trials failed to recapitulate such protection in the context of myocardial infarction, emphasizing the urge to develop new mPTP inhibitors. Here, we investigated the effects of new CypD ligands on mPTP opening. We demonstrated that these small molecules unrelated to CsA are potent mPTP inhibitors and that the most active compound, C31, exhibited stronger mPTP-inhibiting properties as compared to CsA. C31 also inhibited mPTP opening in primary hepatocytes and isolated cardiomyocytes. In vivo, C31 reaches liver mitochondria and protects mitochondrial function in a hepatic ischemia-reperfusion model. Nevertheless, C31 metabolic stability hampers cardiac uptake of the compound. Further development of these new inhibitors might lead to interesting candidates to protect organs against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Le postconditionnement cardiaque est paradoxal chez le rat. Certains auteurs ont montré que cet animal pouvait être protégé par le postconditionnement alors que d’autres ont montré qu’il était inefficace. L’objectif de notre travail était d’éclaircir cette situation et d’établir un lien entre la régulation des fonctions mitochondriales et la réussite ou l’échec du postconditionnement. Nous avons montré sur un modèle in vivo que le rat est sensible au postconditionnement cardiaque sous certaines conditions. Il semble que la réussite de cette thérapie nécessite à la fois une préservation de la phosphorylation oxydative, une inhibition de l’ouverture du mPTP et une diminution de la production de ROS. Nous avons également montré que le complexe I de la chaîne respiratoire régule l’ouverture du mPTP en liaison avec l’état de la Cyp D. L’ensemble de nos résultats montrent que le rat n’est pas réfractaire au postconditionnement, mais pour que celui-ci soit efficace, il est nécessaire de préserver l’intégrité des différentes fonctions mitochondriales. La cardioprotection et la régulation des fonctions mitochondriales sont donc spécifiquement liées au modèle utilisé / Cardiac postconditioning is paradoxical in rat. Certain authors showed that this animal could be protected by postconditioning whereas others showed that it was ineffective. The objective of our work was to clarify this situation and to establish a link between the regulation of the mitochondrial functions and the success or the failure of postconditioning. We showed on an in vivo model that the rat is sensitive to cardiac postconditioning under certain conditions. It seems that the success of this therapy requires at the same time a safeguarding of oxidative phosphorylation, an inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and a reduction in the ROS production. We also showed that complex I of the respiratory chain controls the opening of the mPTP in relation with the state of Cyp D. Our results show that the rat is not insensitive to postconditioning, but it is necessary to preserve the integrity of the mitochondrial functions to be effective. The cardioprotection and the regulation of the mitochondrial functions are specifically related to the model used

A travers ce projet de recherche nous avons exploré différents aspects d’une dérégulation du système dopaminergique sur les troubles du repos, en prenant pour exemple deux maladies neurologiques : la maladie de Willis-Ekbom (MWE) et la maladie de Parkinson (MP). La MWE est une maladie neurologique sensorimotrice caractérisée par des douleurs dans les membres inférieurs, s’accompagnant d’un besoin irrépressible de bouger et ce, suivant un profil circadien. Ainsi, le premier volet de ces travaux s’est appliqué à reproduire chez le macaque, les principales altérations du métabolisme du fer et de celui de la dopamine reportées dans la MWE. Tout d’abord, nous avons établit les bases physiologiques des variations circadiennes des concentrations du fer et de ses biomarqueurs au niveau central et périphérique. Puis, nous avons développé un protocole simple, uniquement basé sur des prélèvements sanguins répétés, permettant d’induire efficacement une déplétion en fer sérique et de ses protéines associées. Finalement, ce protocole nous a permis d’explorer les liens entre l’altération de l’homéostasie du fer au niveau du système nerveux central, les perturbations neurochimiques dans différentes structures cérébrales ainsi que les modifications locomotrices qui en résultent. Le second volet de cette thèse a testé l’impact des agonistes des récepteurs dopaminergiques de type D1 (SKF38393) et D2 (quinpirole), sur les troubles du sommeil dans un modèle macaque de la MP, à l’aide d’enregistrements polysomnographiques. Pour cela, nous avons évalué les effets de ces agents pharmacologiques sur l’émergence de la somnolence diurne et sur l’altération du sommeil paradoxal, induits par une intoxication au MPTP. Nos résultats mettent en évidence que le quinpirole est inefficace pour restaurer les niveaux de base de ces deux paramètres. En revanche, le SKF38393 permet une diminution notable de la somnolence diurne ainsi qu’une restauration du sommeil paradoxal. Finalement, les perturbations monoaminergiques liées à la déplétion en fer ouvrent de multiples perspectives de recherche sur la physiopathologie de la MWE. De même, l’amélioration des troubles veille-sommeil par l’agoniste des récepteurs D1, offre de nouvelles pistes thérapeutiques quant à la prise en charge des troubles du repos dans la MP. L’ensemble de nos résultats apporte un niveau de compréhension supplémentaire quant au rôle de la dopamine dans les altérations du repos. / During this thesis project we explored several aspects of the impact of a dopaminergic system dysregulation on the rest alterations, through two neurological diseases: the Willis-Ekbom’s disease (WED) and Parkinson’s diseases (PD). The WED is a neurological sensorimotor disorder mainly characterized by pain in lower limbs. It preferentially appears in the evening and transiently and partially is alleviated by motor activity. Thus, the first part of this work aimed at reproducing the main dysfunctions of the iron and dopaminergic metabolisms observed in WED, in the macaque monkey. We first established the circadian variations of iron-indicator concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Then we developed a rapid protocol based on repeated blood withdrawals, allowing to efficiently induce serum iron depletion. Finally, this protocol enabled us to investigate the relationship between iron metabolism dysfunctions, neurochemical alterations and the subsequent locomotor behavioural changes. In the second part, of this research project we examined the impact of selective D1 (SKF38393) and D2 (quinpirole) receptor agonists on the sleep impairments in a macaque model of PD using the polysomnographic recording technique. Thus we investigated the effects of these two pharmacological compounds on the daytime sleepiness and on the paradoxical sleep induced by MPTP intoxication. Our results demonstrated the inefficacy of quinpirole to restore these two altered sleep parameters. By contrast, SKF38393 significantly decreased daytime napping and substantially restored paradoxical sleep. Finally, the monoaminergic dysregulations, induced by iron depletion, may offer multiple perspectives to unravel the WED pathophysiology. In the same line, the beneficial effects exhibited by the D1 receptor agonist bring new therapeutic avenues to treat sleep-wake disorders in PD. Together, the global results bring new insights in the underlying mechanisms of sleep impairment involving dopamine.

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雙酚化合物在文獻報導中發現具有抗發炎和抗氧化的能力，因為其親脂性的特性，雙酚化合物可以輕易穿透血腦屏障到中樞神經系統發揮其藥理活性。因此，雙酚化合物被評估可做為潛在預防及治療神經退化性疾病如帕金森氏症的神經保護藥物。本研究目的為探討新合成的雙酚化合物MH101及MH102是否具有神經保護和治療效用，而對抗神經毒素(包含巴拉圭、過氧化氫及MPTP)引起的神經毒害及其誘發的動物行為異常(如: 學習、記憶及運動協調)。研究中應用Oregon-R的果蠅(年齡: 1-2, 7, 20 和 30天)做為檢測模式，果蠅暴露在巴拉圭 (5-20 mM)或過氧化氫(0.3 %-3 %)環境下，並且給予MH101 (0.1-3 μM)。結果顯示MH101未能有效地減緩巴拉圭及過氧化氫所引起果蠅壽命的下降。此外，給予雄性ICR小鼠 (25-30 g) 腹腔注射MPTP (25mg/kg)每天一次連續五天，觀察神經毒素誘發的行為異常和神經毒害。在觀察保護效果的研究中，雄性小鼠在給予MPTP前一小時腹腔注射MH101 (1-3 mg/kg) 或MH102 (0.1-3 mg/kg) 每天一次連續五天，之後單獨給予MH101或MH102治療連續九天。後處理的組別，雄性小鼠在給予MPTP每天一次連續五天後，每天腹腔注射MH101 (1-3 mg/kg) 或MH102 (0.1-3 mg/kg)連續九天。控制組組別，小鼠則給予生理食鹽水(0.9%)及玉米油的混合液。結果顯示，MH101、MH102及MPTP皆不影響小鼠橫桿行走試驗的運動平衡和協調能力。然而，在前處理和後處理MH101或MH102後用新位置辨識能力測試和新物體辨識能力測試觀察MPTP引起的認知缺失，實驗結果顯示MH101及MH102皆恢復短期記憶和長期記憶的認知辨識指標。另外，前處理和後處理MH101或MH102雖有些微恢復紋狀體內MPTP引起多巴胺神經損傷及多巴胺轉運子減少的趨勢，但不顯著。由此推論，雙酚化合物MH101及MH102具有預防及改善神經毒素所引發的認知與學習缺陷，未來可能發展成為神經退化性疾病如帕金森氏症之潛力治療藥物，另針對MH101及MH102在神經損傷及動物行為障礙的恢復和保護藥理機制則需進一步實驗探討。 / Biphenols which are the main constituents of the traditional herbs have been found to possess the antiinflammatory and antioxidative properties. Due to the lipophilic activity, biphenols can readily cross the blood brain barrier to exert their pharmacological effects in the central nervous system. Thus, biphenols are proposed to act as the novel neuroprotective agents for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to examine whether the new synthetic biphenolic compounds MH101 and MH102 have the neuroprotective and therapeutic actions against the neurotoxicity and the behavioral impairments (e.g. learning, memory, and motor coordination) induced by neurotoxins including paraquat, hydrogen peroxide, and MPTP in PD-like animal models. The following experiments examined the lifespan of flies from Oregon-R strain of Drosophoila melanogaster (age: 1-2, 7, 20 and 30 days) chronically exposed to paraquat (5-20 mM) or hydrogen peroxide (0.3 %-3 %) under MH101 (0.1-3 μM) treatment. Our results showed that MH101 could not effectively influence the reduced lifespan of the flies induced by paraquat and hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, male ICR mice (25-30 g) were administrated with MPTP (25 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 5 consecutive days to induce neuronal damage and cognitive deficits. For the protective study, male mice were administrated with MH101 (1-3 mg/kg, i.p.) or MH102 (0.1-3 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 hour prior to MPTP injection once daily for 5 days, and followed daily treatment with MH101 or MH102 alone for consecutive 9 days after the final injection of MPTP. For the post-treatment study, male mice were administrated with MPTP (25 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 5 consecutive days, and followed by daily treatment of MH101 or MH102 for 9 days. Mice in control group were injected with vehicle (0.9% saline + corn oil). The results showed that MH101, MH102, and MPTP alone did not alter the motor functions of coordination and balance in beam walking test. On the other hand, both pre-treatment and post-treatment of MH101 and MH102 reversed the cognitive dysfunction induced by MPTP detected by novel location recognition test (NLRT) and novel object recognition test (NORT). Data demonstrated that MH101 and MH102 reversed the reduction in recognition index (RI) of short term memory and long term memory in MPTP-induced PD model. However, pre-treatment and post-treatment of MH101 or MH102 slightly recovered MPTP-induced loss of dopamine neurons and dopamine transporter in striatum. Therefore, the results suggest that biphenols including MH101 and MH102 may be the candidates for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD. In the future, it will need further study to determine the pharmacological mechanism of MH101 and MH102 in protection and restoration of neuronal injury and cognitive impairment.

Le postconditionnement cardiaque est paradoxal chez le rat. Certains auteurs ont montré que cet animal pouvait être protégé par le postconditionnement alors que d'autres ont montré qu'il était inefficace. L'objectif de notre travail était d'éclaircir cette situation et d'établir un lien entre la régulation des fonctions mitochondriales et la réussite ou l'échec du postconditionnement. Nous avons montré sur un modèle in vivo que le rat est sensible au postconditionnement cardiaque sous certaines conditions. Il semble que la réussite de cette thérapie nécessite à la fois une préservation de la phosphorylation oxydative, une inhibition de l'ouverture du mPTP et une diminution de la production de ROS. Nous avons également montré que le complexe I de la chaîne respiratoire régule l'ouverture du mPTP en liaison avec l'état de la Cyp D. L'ensemble de nos résultats montrent que le rat n'est pas réfractaire au postconditionnement, mais pour que celui-ci soit efficace, il est nécessaire de préserver l'intégrité des différentes fonctions mitochondriales. La cardioprotection et la régulation des fonctions mitochondriales sont donc spécifiquement liées au modèle utilisé

Dopamine deficiency in the striatum is a central feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Symptomatic therapy with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) aims at restoring physiological dopaminergic neurotransmission within the brain. Unfortunately, current treatment paradigms fail to achieve this goal, which leads to the emergence of motor complications, secondary to long term L-DOPA administration, including dyskinesia and wearing-OFF, and non-motor symptoms related to disease progression, including neuropsychiatric symptoms such as psychosis. However, degenerative changes in PD are not limited to the dopaminergic system, but also affect the serotonergic system. There is increasing evidence suggesting an involvement of the serotonergic system in the pathophysiology of both motor and non-motor complications of PD. The work presented in this Thesis has investigated the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in PD, by performing post mortem studies in the brains of PD patients and of parkinsonian non-human primates (NHPs), and by performing behavioural studies in the parkinsonian rat and NHP models of PD. The main conclusions presented are that: 1) serotonergic type 1A (5-HT1A) and 2A (5-HT2A) levels are altered in the brains of dyskinetic parkinsonian NHPs, suggesting abnormal 5-HT1A- and 5-HT2A-mediated neurotransmission in dyskinesia; 2) 5-HT2A receptor levels are altered in the brains of PD patients with visual hallucinations (VH), suggesting abnormal 5-HT2A-mediated neurotransmission in VH; 3) some of the anti-dyskinetic actions attributed to stimulating 5-HT1A or antagonising 5-HT2A receptors might in fact be due to an antagonist action at D4 receptors, as antagonising D4 receptors significantly alleviates L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in rat and NHP models of PD; 4) concurrent inhibition of the serotonin and dopamine transporters (SERT and DAT, respectively) enhances duration of L-DOPA-induced ON-time in the parkinsonian NHP. However, the ratio of SERT/ DAT inhibition appears crucial in determining the quality of this extra ON-time; SERT > DAT inhibition exacerbates the severity of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, whereas SERT = DAT and DAT > SERT inhibition do not worsen the severity of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Together these data extend our knowledge of the interaction between serotonin and dopamine, specifically as they relate to symptoms and side effects of dopamine replacement therapy in PD and highlight potential novel therapeutic approaches to PD.