EFFECTS OF TALIPEXOLE ON CONTRAVERSIVE ROTATION AND FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN MPTP-INDUCED CHRONIC HEMIPARKINSONIAN MONKEYS

The effects of talipexole on functional motor improvement in compariso n with contraversive circling were studied in five chronic (5-7 years post MPTP-lesioned) hemiparkinsonian Macaca nemestrina monkeys. Talipe xole induced contraversive rotations in a dose of 32 mu g/kg for about 1 hr after i.m. injection. Larger doses (56 and 100 mu g/kg, i.m.) pr oduced less effect due to sedation. Three different rating scales were used to assess functional improvement, including a clinical parkinson ism rating scale, volitional responses to fruit presentations, and num ber of significant hand movements. The optimal dose of talipexole was 32 mu g/kg, i.m. Functional improvement by talipexole, including clini cal parkinsonian rating scales and significant hand movements, as well as contraversive circling in hemiparkinsonian monkeys, confirm that t his chronic animal model is useful in preclinical testing of drugs for the treatment of human parkinsonism.