Parkinson's Disease

Genetics.- Point Mutations in the ?-Synuclein Gene.- Autosomal Recessive Juvenile Parkinsonism (AR-JP): Genetic Diagnosis.- Molecular Pathogenetic Studies.- Parkinson's Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Multiple System Atrophy as ?-Synucleinopathies.- ?-Synuclein/Amyloid Interactions.- Functional Defect Conferred by the Parkinson's Disease-Causing ?-Synuclein (Ala30Pro) Mutation.- Molecular Biology of Dopamine-Induced Apoptosis.- Animal Models of Induced Apoptotic Death in the Substantia Nigra.- Apoptotic Morphology in Phenotypically Defined Dopaminergic Neurons of the Substantia Nigra.- The Role of Nitric Oxide in Parkinson's Disease.- Oxidative Stress Indices in Parkinson's Disease.- Molecular Aspects of Basal Ganglia Function.- Quantification of Tyrosine Hydroxylase mRNA.- Immunochemical Analysis of Dopamine Transporters in Parkinson's Disease.- Dopamine Transporter and Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Knockout Mice.- Transcription Mechanisms for Dopamine Receptor Genes.- Detection of DNA/Protein Interactions in Dopamine Receptor Genes.- In Situ Hybridization on Brain Tissue.- Regulation of Striatal N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) Function by Phosphorylation of its Subunits in Parkinsonian Rats.- Molecular Therapies.- Chronic Intracerebral Delivery of Trophic Factors via a Programmable Pump as a Treatment for Parkinsonism.- Grafting Genetically Engineered Cells into the Striatum of Nonhuman Primates.- Encapsulated Cell Implants as a Novel Treatment for Parkinson's Disease.- Neural Stem Cell Technology as a Novel Treatment for Parkinson's Disease.

"The most unique feature of this book is the detail in which the molecular methods are described. Each author has provided detailed information about his or her methodology, including equipment and reagents used. The book is divided into four large sections: genetics, molecular pathogenetic studies, molecular studies of the basal ganglia, and molecular therapies. . .This is a fairly unique book. . .The level of methodological detail is greater than what is provided in a typical research publication. Active researchers will find it a valuable resource when designing experiments."-Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal

"...provides extensive coverage of the different techniques employed by molecular geneticists and neurobiologists for studying the pathogenesis of PD....Parkinson's Disease: Methods and Protocols is well organized and provides a valuable resource for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists....The notes at the end of each chapter are particularly beneficial because they are based on the practical experience of experts in the field who have developed the models and methods....covers a wide spectrum of ongoing research in the PD field and provides insight into cross-disciplinary approaches that will facilitate finding a cure for PD." - Journal of Molecular Neuroscience