Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, affecting 1% of individuals over the age of 60.[1] Though the disease was first described more than 200 years ago, effective treatment options remain elusive. Clinical trials have revealed difficulties in translating results from animal models into human treatments. This highlights the necessity for basic researchers to carefully consider their animal models and experimental design.

In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons for the currently-available mouse models of PD. We will also review some of the most common behavioral tests for studying PD in rodent models.

Overview of Parkinson’s Disease

The most common symptoms of PD are movement problems, including rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia (slowness of movement).[1] In addition, patients experience non-motor symptoms such as cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders.[2] PD is usually diagnosed after age 50 and is slightly more common in women than men. With the exception of a few rare varieties caused by a single genetic mutation, most cases of PD have no known cause.[1]

The pathological hallmark of PD is the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain. Lewy bodies are toxic fibrillar deposits made primarily from the α-synuclein protein, which accumulates inside of neurons and disrupts their proper function. Lewy bodies contribute to the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, leading to the deterioration of motor control in PD. As the disease progresses, Lewy bodies spread to other regions of the brain and lead to the development of non-motor symptoms.[1]

Current therapies for PD cannot fully ameliorate the progression of the disease, and many, include considerable adverse side effects.[3] As a result, the development of effective PD treatments remains an active field of research in neurobiology.