Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor, as well as non-motor symptoms. Neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation play central roles in disease progression.

At Redoxis, we offer in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease based on neurotoxin-induced dopaminergic cell loss. These models are well-established tools for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, or symptomatic therapies.

Parkinson’s Disease Models

6-OHDA-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model (Rat)

The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model is a widely used toxin-based model for inducing selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. 6-OHDA is stereotactically injected into the medial forebrain bundle, striatum, or substantia nigra of rats, leading to unilateral dopaminergic neuron loss and asymmetric motor deficits.

The extent of lesioning can be titrated by injection site and dose, and behavioral assessment is typically performed using amphetamine- or apomorphine-induced rotation tests. Inflammatory markers and neuronal loss can be evaluated histologically or biochemically at study termination.

Key Features:

Stereotactic injection of 6-OHDA in rat brain regions
Induces selective loss of dopaminergic neurons
Unilateral lesioning enables behavioral scoring via rotation tests
Suitable for evaluating neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory therapies
CNS tissue available for histology, immunohistochemistry, or transcriptomics

MPTP-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model (Mouse)

The MPTP model is one of the most widely used mouse models for Parkinson’s disease, involving systemic administration of the neurotoxin MPTP, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and selectively targets dopaminergic neurons.

Depending on the dosing regimen (acute or subacute), this model induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration, microglial activation, and motor impairment. It is well-suited for studying early neuroinflammatory events, mitochondrial dysfunction, and α-synuclein pathology.

Key Features:

Systemic administration of MPTP in mice (C57BL/6)
Selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and striatum
Microglial activation and neuroinflammation
Motor impairment measurable via behavioral assays
Suitable for early-stage intervention and mechanistic studies

Complementary Assays and Readouts

Redoxis provides a range of ex vivo and in vitro assays to support mechanistic insight and compound profiling in neurodegenerative disease studies:

Microglia activation assays (e.g., LPS- or α-synuclein-stimulated human microglia)
Luminex and ELISA panels for cytokine profiling (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β)
Histological analysis of dopaminergic neuron integrity, gliosis, and synaptic markers
Behavioral assessments including rotation, open field, and gait analysis
Gene expression profiling of neuroinflammatory and neuronal pathways

Our Parkinson’s models offer robust and translationally relevant platforms for evaluating novel therapies targeting neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and motor dysfunction. Contact us to discuss model selection, study design, or tailored readout strategies.

Parkinson’s Disease